JetAmerica: $500,000.00 in refunds issued to customers
Posted Date: 03/07/2009
etAmerica, the low fare air carrier service that offers non-stop seats starting at $9 each, way has announced 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: "In 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.”
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.
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."
JetAmerica's business model is based on flying big jets and offering non-stop, low fare flights in cities that are underserved by most airlines; 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.
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