They'll be a profile of some of the start-ups posted at a new blog we're putting together. It is at http://emergingairlines.blogspot.com/

Feel free to stop by and check it out. A primer on the subject is already posted and we'll be getting into some detail on Skybus soon.

 

A startup called Festival is announcing plans to serve Rockford, IL.


http://emergingairlines.blogspot.com/
It has now been reported that Festival Airlines will announce that it plans its initial base in Rockford, IL. We have been watching Festival with interest since 2004. Management expereince includes some Fedex veterans (no, this isn't the team from the Pittsburgh startup called Victory which also has former Fedex execs). We do not have confirmation, but hear that Blackwater Capital may be involved in its capitalization. Festival has been doing a great job at staying underneath the radar screen up to this point, which is what smart startups like Festival and DJ Air do. There has been no application to the DOT by Festival as of yet, but if they have their capital we would expect a filing soon unless they plan to work with a Ryan International-type carrier to get started. We hear that they have been shopping for 757s. More details to come...

 

From past experience, I can tell you the certification process will take about a year, and that is if all is in order. The DOT is very careful in giving their approval now a days after what happened to some of these fly by night operators that recently went bust. The DOT is concerned with the background of corporate managment of which they now conduct thorough checks. The FAA also is in no rush in putting together a CSET team together for certification either since their budget is quite limited too.

 

They could do a d/b/a arrangement with another carrier.

 

It looks like they will be doing just that. That means Ryan Int'l (or someone like them) could be hiring soon. We'll have to wait and see.

 

They could do a d/b/a arrangement with another carrier

In a prior life when I was in management and flying for a former carrier there was an individual who was a friend with one of the owners of our airline. This person owned 3 B727s. This individual wanted to start up his own airline. The intention was to put the two of his three aircraft he owned onto our certificate. His aircraft would have to under go a bridging inspection to put his aircraft onto our certificate as well. Our airline would interview, hire, and train pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics for those aircraft that would be operated under our certificate for his desired routes. All of these employees would be under contract to our airline.

During this time he would put together the required FAR Part 119 personnel so his own airline could undergo the certification. A third aircraft he owned along with some of the contract employees were to be used for his airlines’ certification process. In theory and on paper very easy. But in reality… way too many complications.

With this in mind, his aircraft, pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics have to operate and maintain these aircraft in accordance with our certificate. We, the “host airline” would be on the hook to all vendors that all expenses in connection with his operation are covered. Remember, the DOT looks at an airlines operation, and payment record, as the FAA looks oversees our operations, and of course the traveling public… well you know about the traveling public. This could affect us for future expansion and our reputation. These people don’t care who is piggy backing on your certificate… it’s our airline’s reputation. It’s a lot of responsibility for a “hosting carrier” to assume. If the plan doesn’t work out for the individual seeking a certificate, he walks away from the program, and the “host carrier” is stuck with the bad rap from the traveling public, the DOT, and the FAA. They don’t care about the “Master Plan!

Hey what about pay issues? There is going to be trouble in paradise if there is a major disparity in pay between both groups.

Again it can be done, but you ain’t going to find a rube that would take on another carrier’s responsibility.

Either way, there is no way around the DOT and FAA certification program.

 

Skybus has raised the $100 million and have received their DOT certification.

 

Sky- WHO? ? ?

 

SkyBus made a presentation at the Air Inc seminar in ATL last winter.

Basically Columbus OH based, looking to go the ultra-low cost Ryanair Euro LCC model.

Had a impressive list of people coming from other carriers to run it.

Other than that, no real info.

 

SKY-WHO?

lots of details on Skybus here:
http://emergingairlines.blogspot.com/