Whenever there will be talk of the 2008 fuel rates reaching the sky, skybus airline will also be mentioned as an ambitious adventure that misfired majorly, resulting in bankruptcy big time and total cessation of all the flights. Ohio did not have a private regional airline of its own and when skybus was launched, people appreciated it. Unfortunately, it would need much more than appreciation of the people of ohio to suffice.
When ryan air had begun as a low air fare regional airline of europe, economists had predicted its failure. Much to their chagrin, that never happened and ryan air went on to become the airline of the common man. When skybus airline had been established, the only cause behind the beginning of this low air fare air line service was to give the common man a means to travel with in the states with out having to pay humungous amounts to international air lines. Unfortunately things did not turn out to the way they were supposed or anticipated to be.
Just before skybus airline was launched, another low air fare airline South West airlines, another us-based air line took off. This left skybus as an old concept. Still it was new for the people of Ohio.

The plan of action was extremely pragmatic, concentrating on the routes hitherto un explored. These routes were to the remote areas, where people never had an airline land. The media appreciated the effort. For some time there was a lot of talk about skybus airline being the next big thing happening to the US.

Unluckily waters ran out dry before any thing could happen.
The initial plan was copied from that of ryan air and stops and touch downs of the skybus airline were at secondary air ports , not main city hubs. This was done in order to by pass the competition by the giants and create a smaller but reliable market. A lot of other business steps were taken like frequent mileage clubs, in flight entertainment options, in flight services and most importantly in flight sales.

The initial 8 destinations of the airline were all scheduled from Columbus. The fare was ridiculously low. Until now, everything was alright, but then skybus airline committed some grand mistakes. The main ones were via the employment of secondary air ports even n main cities. These air ports were rather out of the way, and lacked many features that air ports should have. The airline used ramps and stairs in place of jet ways, the employees were underpaid and a union of the employees was not allowed with in the airline. All this resulted in gigantic negative publicity. Then there was the issue of extra fees as well.

Since the air fare was so low, skybus airlines was practically surcharging for every extra benefit, like luggage over weighted by a kilo, extra weight baggage, cancellations, alterations etc. Naturally the losses had to re covered from some where. Only that even such steps also could not make up for the losses suffered by the skybus airline.

The airline reported a record breaking loss of 6 million $ in its first three months. The management of skybus airline insisted that this loss was anticipated and that all is well. However, then the inevitable happened.

With the sudden rise in the rates of fuel, 4 airlines shut down their services. They were ata, aloha, champion and skybus airline it self. During this time, the employees were expecting something of the sort and were in the process of making a union. Unfortunately or fortunately, the closure out did them, and a year after it had begun, skybus airline had to shut down with a debt of 10 million dollars.