JetAmerica, the nation’s newest low fare indirect air carrier service that offers non-stop seats starting at $9 each way announces today it is self-imposing a 31 day delay of the launch of its first flights, which were originally scheduled for July 13, 2009 but are now slated to take-off on August 14, 2009.
“The delay is not as unusual as it sounds,” according to JetAmerica’s Vice President of Operations Brian Burling. “Historically many of the world’s most successful airlines and charter services have had to delay their launches.” The primary reason for the delay is due to unforeseen complications with landing and take-off time slots at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey.
Burling says, February 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration advised us, through an intermediary, that our operations at Newark could be accommodated. “However, at about the same time JetAmerica started making national news with its $9 non-stop fares; when JetAmerica announced 60,000 website visitors; and sales in excess of 20,000 the FAA re-clarified its policy telling JetAmerica we would need to obtain slots,” according to Burling.
JetAmerica is sending out a blast e-mail today advising 6,486 passengers that booked flights from July 13 through August 13, 2009 that their credit card accounts will be fully refunded for all charges. The credits should appear on e-statements within seven to 14 days.
“Recognizing that this delay is an inconvenience; as a courtesy aimed at preventing erosion of consumer confidence, JetAmerica will offer passengers who were originally booked on flights from July 13 through August 13 special incentives to rebook on future flights when they call our reservations center,” says JetAmerica spokesperson Bryan Glazer. “These incentives include waiving the standard $10 reservations convenience fee. We will also waive the $20 fee for the first-checked piece of baggage and the $10 seat assignment fee,” says Glazer.
JetAmerica, a Part 380 indirect air carrier, subcontracting aircraft from Miami Air International, still intends to provide Boeing 737-800 big jet, roundtrip, non-stop flights starting on August 14, 2009 from Lansing, Michigan; Melbourne-Vero Beach, Florida; South Bend, Indiana; and Toledo, Ohio to New York-Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey. JetAmerica is also flying roundtrip flights between Toledo and Melbourne-Vero Beach and Minneapolis-St. Paul; and from Lansing to Melbourne-Vero Beach.“Initially, JetAmerica planned to fly 34 weekly flight segments starting on July 13, 2009. On August 14, 2009 the number of flights is still slated to expand to 40 per week. There are no immediate plans to change our flight schedules,” according to Burling.
JetAmerica Chief Executive Officer John Weikle says, “We feel terrible for the folks who booked with us for travel during the July 13 - August 13 timeframe, but the FAA’s change in the slot policy for indirect air carriers is beyond our control. We are working hard to obtain all the slots we need as soon as possible.”That FAA’s policy change was not brought to the carrier’s attention until after it had already made millions of dollars in sales, according to JetAmerica.
JetAmerica’s successful business model is based on flying big jets and offering non-stop, low fare flights in cities where passengers are currently forced to travel on turbo prop planes and small commuter jets. They must make connections, endure long layovers and pay extremely expensive airfares to travel to high demand destinations such as New York and Florida. JetAmerica is offering fares 50 to 70 percent less than other carriers flying similar but indirect routes.
“People should not be quick to jump to negative conclusions about JetAmerica,” warns Burling. “I am particularly referring to internet bloggers and naysayers who are predicting the worst.”
www.JetAmerica.com is still active and customers can still book online reservations.
Burling concludes, “The overwhelming customer demand for these flights that we experienced so far shows just how underserved these markets are and how much people want to fly JetAmerica.”
(JetAmerica - Press Release)
“The delay is not as unusual as it sounds,” according to JetAmerica’s Vice President of Operations Brian Burling. “Historically many of the world’s most successful airlines and charter services have had to delay their launches.” The primary reason for the delay is due to unforeseen complications with landing and take-off time slots at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey.
Burling says, February 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration advised us, through an intermediary, that our operations at Newark could be accommodated. “However, at about the same time JetAmerica started making national news with its $9 non-stop fares; when JetAmerica announced 60,000 website visitors; and sales in excess of 20,000 the FAA re-clarified its policy telling JetAmerica we would need to obtain slots,” according to Burling.
JetAmerica is sending out a blast e-mail today advising 6,486 passengers that booked flights from July 13 through August 13, 2009 that their credit card accounts will be fully refunded for all charges. The credits should appear on e-statements within seven to 14 days.
“Recognizing that this delay is an inconvenience; as a courtesy aimed at preventing erosion of consumer confidence, JetAmerica will offer passengers who were originally booked on flights from July 13 through August 13 special incentives to rebook on future flights when they call our reservations center,” says JetAmerica spokesperson Bryan Glazer. “These incentives include waiving the standard $10 reservations convenience fee. We will also waive the $20 fee for the first-checked piece of baggage and the $10 seat assignment fee,” says Glazer.
JetAmerica, a Part 380 indirect air carrier, subcontracting aircraft from Miami Air International, still intends to provide Boeing 737-800 big jet, roundtrip, non-stop flights starting on August 14, 2009 from Lansing, Michigan; Melbourne-Vero Beach, Florida; South Bend, Indiana; and Toledo, Ohio to New York-Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey. JetAmerica is also flying roundtrip flights between Toledo and Melbourne-Vero Beach and Minneapolis-St. Paul; and from Lansing to Melbourne-Vero Beach.“Initially, JetAmerica planned to fly 34 weekly flight segments starting on July 13, 2009. On August 14, 2009 the number of flights is still slated to expand to 40 per week. There are no immediate plans to change our flight schedules,” according to Burling.
JetAmerica Chief Executive Officer John Weikle says, “We feel terrible for the folks who booked with us for travel during the July 13 - August 13 timeframe, but the FAA’s change in the slot policy for indirect air carriers is beyond our control. We are working hard to obtain all the slots we need as soon as possible.”That FAA’s policy change was not brought to the carrier’s attention until after it had already made millions of dollars in sales, according to JetAmerica.
JetAmerica’s successful business model is based on flying big jets and offering non-stop, low fare flights in cities where passengers are currently forced to travel on turbo prop planes and small commuter jets. They must make connections, endure long layovers and pay extremely expensive airfares to travel to high demand destinations such as New York and Florida. JetAmerica is offering fares 50 to 70 percent less than other carriers flying similar but indirect routes.
“People should not be quick to jump to negative conclusions about JetAmerica,” warns Burling. “I am particularly referring to internet bloggers and naysayers who are predicting the worst.”
www.JetAmerica.com is still active and customers can still book online reservations.
Burling concludes, “The overwhelming customer demand for these flights that we experienced so far shows just how underserved these markets are and how much people want to fly JetAmerica.”
(JetAmerica - Press Release)
No comments:
Post a Comment