Buses With Wings -- the Future of Flying?

Nov. 19, 2007— -- Does anyone like to fly anymore? It seems like the once-glamorous experience has lost its charm.

It's not just the crowds, the high prices, the hassle of airport security — it's also the disappointment. When you're up in the air, you don't just want to be on a bus with wings. But these days, that is often the case.

Flying was once sophisticated — not an ordeal, but an expedition. Every flight attendant was the model of perfection, well-dressed, perfectly coiffed, enthusiastic and helpful. Pilots were somewhat awe-inspiring, reminiscent of ship captains, and outwardly enthusiastic about flying — a point made obvious by the shiny wings on their lapels.

Passengers used to dress up for flights, instead of slipping on an old sweatsuit that seems to have become the typical garb.

But you can't blame the passengers having, perhaps, lost motivation to get dolled up, after paying enormous fuel surcharges, having their luggage lost, missing connections, waiting on runways, and flying through dinners un-served.

The major airlines aren't exactly making out too well, either. Five U.S. airlines have sought bankruptcy protection in the last six years.

In 2005, Delta Air Lines Inc., and Northwest Airlines — the nation's No. 3 and No. 4 air carriers, respectively — both declared bankruptcy protection on the same day. United Airlines filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection twice — once in 2002, and again in 2004.

Smaller, low-cost airlines were not saved, either. Hawaiian Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2003, while ATA Airlines filed in October 2004.

The flying experience is so bad, in large part, because the airlines are cutting costs in their struggle to make money. Thus, they are trying to squeeze more people onto planes, and more planes into the sky.

Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer hopes to change all this and revolutionize the way we think about flying. Skybus launched last spring, entering the growing arena of discount air carriers. The name Skybus tells you what it's trying to pull off: an airline experience so stripped-down, cost-cutting and frill-free, it actually is like a bus with wings.