> Skybus becomes third airline this week to close
> a.. Low-cost carrier cites high price of jet fuel
>
> b.. ATA and Aloha also closing after bankruptcy filings
>
> c.. Skybus says passengers can seek refunds from credit card firms
>
> (CNN) -- Skybus Airlines announced Friday it is shutting down its
> passenger flights -- becoming the third airline this week to cease
> operations.
>
> The low-cost carrier couldn't overcome "the combination of rising jet
fuel
> costs and a slowing economic environment," the company said Friday.
"These
> two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier."
>
> Skybus, an Ohio-based airline founded in 2004, will cease operations
> effective Saturday.
>
> Earlier in the week, ATA Airlines and Aloha Airlines announced they
would
> shut down flights as both companies work through bankruptcy filings.
>
> ATA, an Indiana-based low-cost charter airline, filed for Chapter 11
> status Wednesday as a result of financial problems "following the loss
of
> a key contract for our military charter business," the company said. The
> company started operation in 1973.
>
> Hawaii-based Aloha Airlines announced Sunday it would shut down its
> passenger operations this week after filing for bankruptcy protections
> last month, concluding 61 years of service.
>
> In its bankruptcy filing, Aloha said it was unable to generate enough
> revenue from its inter-island passenger flights because of below-cost
> fares by competitors Mesa Air Group's go! airline. The company said it
was
> forced to match the competitor's fares during an unprecedented increase
in
> the cost of jet fuel.
>
> Skybus said all flights Friday would be completed; passengers with
> reservations for Saturday and beyond were told to seek refunds from
their
> credit card companies.
>
>
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