Skybus Bankrupt/ Allegiant air pulls out

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Skybus just announced bankruptcy and Allegiant Air is closing down 5/31. Both low cost airlines blamed the gas prices. We have no more low cost airlines out of GBS. I guess I can count myself lucky that I made it to Fla and back on Allegiant Air last week.

I am wondering how long even the big airlines can hold on. shaggy

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Skybus just announced bankruptcy and Allegiant Air is closing down 5/31. Both low cost airlines blamed the gas prices. We have no more low cost airlines out of GBS. I guess I can count myself lucky that I made it to Fla and back on Allegiant Air last week.

I am wondering how long even the big airlines can hold on. shaggy

Is Allegiant just pulling out or completely closing down? If they're gone then there goes our only non-stop to Vegas out of Wichita.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Doug, I don't know what the whole story is, but my coworker is going to Orlando in May and they told her they could get her there but not get her back. When our local news broke the story about skybus they also confirmed Allegiant's last flight is at the end of the month but did not say if they were going bankrupt but it doesn't look good. I was really rooting for these two airlines as we just don't have any low cost airlines in Greensboro and I'll now have to drive to either Raleigh or Charlotte. shaggy

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

That is real bad news, Only the strong will survive. Prices are going to go up, these guys were our only hope to keep them down.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Allegiant is apparently just pulling out of your market. They are still accepting reservations in our area until August of this year. Allegiant is a charter company and has a habit of pulling out of markets if they're not making enough money or feel that the plane would be more profitable in another market. It's one of the risks of flying with them.

[Guest Close monaco]

Airline Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy doesn't always mean they stop flying. Most keep flying thru it all. In fact, I believe that they usually give no warning when they are going to cease operations. Get more of our money in their pockets that way. Also, they must hate empty seats more than fuel prices. Maybe as the US downturn gets worse, fewer will travel and prices will drop. Hope springs eternal.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Could it be MLT Vacations with Champion Air rather than Allegiant that's gone belly up? I found this blurb on a Vegas forum about MLT ceasing flights as of May 31st:
The news came on the same day ATA Airlines shut down after an unexpected loss of key charter flights and persistently high fuel prices. And Aloha Airlines made its last flight Tuesday. Minnesota-based charter operator Champion Air said it will stop flying by May 31.

Aviation consultant Michael Boyd said expensive fuel was only one problem among many plaguing ATA, Aloha and Champion.

MLT/Champion flew charter flights to Vegas out of OKC. We flew with them a couple of times before Allegiant came to Wichita. They weren't very impressive but they were inexpensive.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the same thing doesn't happen to medium sized LCC's on this side of the pond like Sky Europe, on which I have flights to Croatia in August, MyAir, on which I have flights to Sicily in October, and Wizz Air, which offers the most flights in this area. I also have upcoming flights on Air Baltic and EasyJet, but those LCC's have consistently made money even when the majors were hurting, so I have no fears about their survival.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I truly don't understand Allegiant pulling out of GSO. The plane was full both coming and going to Sanford/Orlando last week. No empty seats!! shaggy