Nothing is perfect in this world. Regarding facilities referred by you, expert groups like Tatas are making an analysis. They will make a detailed node-wise and sector-wise analysis on various fronts like education, roads, health and water supply and submit a report to Guardian Minister Shri Ganesh Naik, in consultation with CIDCO, NMMC, and MIDC. I am sure solutions are available to every problem, if our intentions are good….

http://www.vashi2panvel.com/Navi-Mumbai-News/index.php?arr=item/1085

http://navimumbai-naiksanjeev.blogspot.com

While at first I thought maybe you were just a good hearted soul with some insight into the airline business, it turns out, you’re just not that bright when it comes to business.

Yes, you pay unemployment insurance out of your check, but should you be laid off (and let’s face it, if you’re working for an airline, that’s only a matter of time), the company (or companies) you worked for also must continue to pay into that pool (that’s why companies dispute unemployment claims.) So, yes… some of the Skybus reserve funds will continue to be paid to the state of Ohio. Also, unlike frontline folks, many of the executives were under contract, and many of those contracts include terms for severance in the event of insolvency. So, yes…some of the Skybus $ will go to severence packages.

As far as the Dispatch, I would encourage everyone to read the following Dispatch article from 4/6

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/06/skybus_aftermath_main.ART_ART_04-06-08_A1_4V9RIFN.html?sid=101

The info in the piece is highly critical of some of Skybus’ business practices, and points out that the demise should come as no surprise. All of the info for the piece was available prior to the closing, and yet the Dispatch did not run the news until too late for its readers/subscribers. Prior to April 4th, the CD was an unabashed cheerleader for the airline, and Central Ohio’s major daily was nothing more than a shill. Painting a rosier picture than Skybus deserved, when you are a major investor in the airline is not just irresponsible, it’s unethical. While the Dispatch disclosed their investment in a few articles, it is the responibility of a media outlet to make this clear EVERY time you mention the company you hold interest in. It is also the responsibility of that media outlet to cover the business the same way you would cover every other business…critically, but fair. The Dispatch did not live up to this responsibility.

Is the rumor that Skybus discontinued its services correct? If so, is it despite or because of all the words spilled here over it?

Cheers!

Seems like a logical first step instead of asking people on a blog how to get your money back?

And to Deb -SEE folks – they are only REQUIRED to give you back your money if you comply with the rules of the Fair Credit Act.

As I said in another post here – the card issuers generally hold back a piece of the air traffic liability, the money you charge for future travel, depending on the relative health of the carrier. American probably gets more of the amount charged immediately than anyone – the bankrupt carriers the least.

Years ago USAir’s exit from bankruptcy was slowed by the credit card issuers not liking the business plan and wanted to keep almost ALL of the airline revenue out past 60 days of travel since they thought they’d need to cover their rears given the history of USAir in bankruptcy.

Now, Capital One is playing games – call them and dispute the charge IMMEDIATELY. Same thing with Kathy – though, the Fair Credit Act does NOT apply to debit cards. Thats why you NEVER use them to buy anything except that which you have in hand immediately and can afford to lose.

severance pay.. ??? unemployment?? They had employees coming to work on Saturday morning that did not know they even had a job.. They are not going to do anything for their employees.. They are going to stand in line or from Ohio, call on the phone for unemployement in which I pay for every week out of my check.. When they release their financial statements like they did for the 3rd quarter you will see. They knew, just like everyone else that runs a business that they were EXPECTED to lose lots of money the 1st year of business just like 95% of any new businesses.. they even stated this when they released the 3rd quarter p/l sheets. Yes they will encounter many fees for legal consultation however they were expected to lose money until they opened their 2nd Hub and got things running smoothly.. Also , Columbus Dipatch made it very clear here that they invested millions of dollars as well as the city of columbus, port columbus, and just like you stated many other high profile companies.

Secondly, regarding the cash on hand. When companies close the doors, they generally try to do so before spending the last nickel. If you are losing money, and see no signs that you will stop losing money, the responsible thing to do for your investors, and board members is to stop losing money. For Skybus, the only way to do that is to close the doors now. Every month you have to lease a jet that is losing thousands of dollars a day is bad business. Part of the remaining cash on hand will go to pay penalties on ending leases early. Part of it will go to credit card companies to pay interest penalties, and reimbursement for the refunds they are obligated to pay. Part of it will go to legal fees for filing, and defending against lawsuits that are sure to come. And yes, part of it will go to severance and unemployment for the ex-Skybus employees. Yes, this probably includes some packages for the executives, but it also includes taking care of the guy that sweeps the floors, or the woman who works in baggage claim.

There is little doubt that Skybus did some things that were wrong and downright stupid. Making customers work through a maze to get basic customer service is not smart. Starting a leisure airline based in Columbus at a time when fuel costs are forcing other airlines to raise rates is not a sound business idea. It is not a business’ responsibility to explain to customers their business model… It IS the responsiblility of the only major daily newspaper to take a look at how local businesses are doing. The Columbus Dispatch fell down hard in not looking and reporting a little harder on Skybus in the months prior to the collapse. As a Skybus investor, the CD obviously had skin in the game, and their overly positive reporting and failure to continually disclose that investment breaches obvious journalistic ethics. Readers and subscribers should ask some hard questions about what other central ohio companies are running on Dispatch cash..

Our family had more than 20 tickets on Skybus booked over the next couple of months. We joked about the fact that we hoped Skybus would last through the summer so we could enjoy them (we knew it was “when” not “if”)

Skybus sucked, and I’m pointing at the Dispatch for putting their investors interests over those of their readers. Shame on skybus, and shame on the Dispatch.

I did fine on the way down; I wrote about it here. I was scheduled to fly back Saturday 4/5. Friday night I went to check in online and was greeted with the orange-and-blue box o’death. I guess I should have known when this airline had the colors of (pick one): the now defunct Howard Johnson’s chain, or the New York Mets, who couldn’t make sense of 40-year-old John Smoltz yesterday.

I didn’t find out until AFTER I had purchased a one-way ticket on American Eagle for $269, because I just wanted to get HOME that anyone was doing anything for stranded Skybus passengers. I probably would have had to do this anyway, because the thought of waiting around an airport for standby for $50 didn’t thrill me either.

So because I wanted to save a few bucks, I ended up flying into a city that was 62 miles from where I was actually going, using 17 bucks worth of gasoline during my trip, getting lost on the way out of Greensboro, paying for an additional airfare and an extra day of parking in Newburgh, AND taking half of yesterday morning having my husband drive me to Stewart to pick up my car and then driving it 52 miles home. Add to that the cost of buying him breakfast for his trouble.

That said, the flight was fine — bumpy takeoff, but when you take off in 30mph crosswinds, that happens. The plane was lovely and roomy and the flight attendants were professional, even with one elderly woman who had obviously had a stroke, could hardly speak, was deaf as a post and wanted to use the bathroom as we were taxiing to takeoff. I have no beef with any of the staff.

But to just shut down with no notice is reprehensible.

In retrospect, Skybus feels like one of those hairbrained dotcoms that sprouted up and died just as ignominiously in the 1990′s.

cant wait to hear the outcome of this whole fiasco….’
thanks for the comment
makes sense to me!!!!!