Skybus is ready to roll out its new hub, despite problems over the Christmas holiday that stranded several hundred passengers.
Prevailing attitude seems to be ‘passenger beware:’
It’s not necessarily unacceptable, said Anthony Tangorra, an airline consultant and chief executive officer of Latitude Transport Advisory.
“I don’t think it’s a PR disaster,” Tangorra said. “I think it’s a step on the learning curve for the public about Skybus and low-cost airlines like them and their service.”
In the 1990s, passengers in Europe learned to deal with the inconveniences of deep-discount airline Ryanair for the low fares. And if history holds true, they should adapt to Skybus, he said.
…..Skybus is frank about its position, saying passengers should be well-informed of its policies.
“It’s incumbent upon the airline to make sure that information’s available,” (Skybus spokesman Bob) Tenenbaum said. “And frankly I think it’s incumbent upon passengers to know what they’re buying. Skybus may not be for everybody. But people who are uncomfortable with that probably need to look elsewhere.”
PTIA president Ted Johnson’s words weren’t exactly conforting, considering the tense he uses:
Taking on the untested airline doesn’t keep Ted Johnson up at night, though. The airport’s executive director said, “This is (an airline) culture we’re talking about that they have in Europe. Whether Americans are willing to work that culture I just don’t know. Ryanair has these glitches and they overcome them.”
I guess passengers should know what to expect for a $20 ticket, not to mention what taxpayers should expect for $57 million in incentives.
