Sold to another newly formed company, Skybus Corporation, in January 1985. Skybus, which has been unable to obtain operating authority of its own, reforms Frontier Horizon, which is equipped with 5 B-727-191s and 1 B-727-291 leased from Frontier Holdings.
Frontier Horizon’s routes are either absorbed by Frontier Airlines (1) or dropped by Skybus after May as it attempts to establish its own low-cost service hubbing on Atlanta’s Fulton County Airport. In July, the six jetliners begin to provide charter services as the carrier awaits its opportunity—and certification—to launch scheduled services.
During the next 6 months, 47,000 passengers are flown, primarily on charters between Atlanta and Las Vegas. Passengers are also flown for World Airways while a number of cargo flights are made on behalf of The Flying Tiger Line.
Revenues total $3.86 million; however, start-up costs are so high that losses are taken: $568,000 (operating) and $684,000 (net).
Two Douglas DC-9-15s are leased from Best Airlines in early 1986 and are employed to operate a replacement segment on behalf of New York Air’s Washington to New York shuttle service. The heavy losses suffered during the previous year, together with continued failure in the new, forces Skybus to stop flying in November. Neither traffic nor financial figures are released.
SKYBUS EXPRESS: United States (1991-1992). Privately owned Skybus Express is established in 1991 to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) to three Alabama communities. Revenue flights commence with a single Australian-made GAF Nomad N-24A. Neither traffic nor revenue figures are publicized, although it is reported that three more Nomads enter service.
In the spring of 1992, two of the three routes are reawarded to GP Express, a competitor. Unable to continue, President Ron Ciaravella’s carrier shuts down.
World History
