Low-fare airline takes off in October

One-way tickets to Dulles start at $69 on Independence

Monday, August 02, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

After years of trying, Huntsville International Airport has a low-fare airline.

Starting Oct. 1, Huntsville travelers can fly on Independence Air to its hub at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., for as low as $69 one-way.

Independence Air officials are scheduled to announce the new service this morning at the airport.

The airline plans six daily nonstop flights to Dulles with connecting flights from there to 30 cities across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

"We're coming in right away with a full schedule," said Rick DeLisi, director of corporate communications for Independence Air.

One-way fares to Dulles will start at $69, with no fare from Huntsville to Washington costing more than $129, he said. Fares from Huntsville to connecting cities start at $89 one-way and will be no higher than $199.

"You get a low fare anytime you fly," he said, "even the day before Thanksgiving, even on a crowded flight when you're lucky to get the last seat."

Independence is able to keep its fares low, DeLisi said, "by building an ultra-efficient hub with easy connections."

The airline also will offer special fares for flights booked through Aug. 15 to Dulles for as low as $39 one-way and to connecting cities for as low as $79 one-way. Travel must be completed by Dec. 19.

"I think it will be a real benefit to business travelers," who often must buy tickets at the last minute, said airport spokeswoman Cindy Maloney. Even travelers who buy tickets in advance should benefit, she said, "because other airlines will try to be competitive."

For years, officials at Huntsville International have tried to lure a low-cost carrier such as Southwest Airlines. But, with Southwest already serving airports in Birmingham and Nashville, the airline saw no need to add Huntsville to its roster.

Southwest, the nation's largest and most well-known low-fare airline, accounts for 19 to 24 percent of tickets purchased by travelers in Huntsville International's service region, according to airport officials. With Independence's entry into the market, "I think (some of those flyers) will probably stay at their home airport," Maloney said. "It'll depend on the cities" they want to fly to, she said.

Independence will use 50-seat iJETs with all-leather seats configured to add an inch of legroom over other planes of similar size, DeLisi said.

All flights are sold one-way and are available for sale on the Independence Web site, FLYi.com. Flights can also be booked at 1-800-FLY-FLYi (359-3594); phone bookings cost $5 more each way than Internet fares. Independence bookings are not available through third-party services such as Travelocity and Orbitz.

Ninety percent of the airline's flights are booked online, DeLisi said.

One of the "hallmarks" of Independence, he said, is having frequent flights "so we can be competitive for the business and leisure traveler." The airline has seven daily flights in Nashville; six in Savannah, Ga.; nine through Greensboro, N.C.; 14 in Raleigh, N.C.; 16 in Newark, N.J.; and 16 in Boston.

The airline's frequent flyer program, called iCLUB, gives one point for each dollar spent on Independence tickets. There are no restrictions or blackout dates limiting their use, DeLisi said.

Independence began service June 16, with flights to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Newark and Raleigh/Durham. It started service to Nashville July 1 and to Knoxville July 23. The airline will be in 35 cities by Sept. 1, DeLisi said. By then, it will offer a schedule of more than 600 daily departures.

The airline will start adding 27 new 132-passenger Airbus A319s at Dulles this fall. The Airbus aircraft will allow Independence to offer nonstop service from Washington to Florida and the West Coast, starting in November. Those cities will be announced this month, DeLisi said.

With the addition of the A319s, the Independence fleet will grow to more than 110 jet aircraft.

"The overall goal for planes, on a systemwide basis, is to reach the low 70s" in the percentage of seats filled, DeLisi said.

Independence's parent company is Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, based in Dulles, Va.



Low-fare airline takes off in October One-way tickets to Dulles start at $69 on Independence Monday, August 02, 2004 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com After years of trying, Huntsville International Airport has a low-fare airline. Starting Oct. 1, Huntsville travelers can fly on Independence Air to its hub at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., for as low as $69 one-way. Independence Air officials are scheduled to announce the new service this morning at the airport. The airline plans six daily nonstop flights to Dulles with connecting flights from there to 30 cities across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. "We're coming in right away with a full schedule," said Rick DeLisi, director of corporate communications for Independence Air. One-way fares to Dulles will start at $69, with no fare from Huntsville to Washington costing more than $129, he said. Fares from Huntsville to connecting cities start at $89 one-way and will be no higher than $199. "You get a low fare anytime you fly," he said, "even the day before Thanksgiving, even on a crowded flight when you're lucky to get the last seat." Independence is able to keep its fares low, DeLisi said, "by building an ultra-efficient hub with easy connections." The airline also will offer special fares for flights booked through Aug. 15 to Dulles for as low as $39 one-way and to connecting cities for as low as $79 one-way. Travel must be completed by Dec. 19. "I think it will be a real benefit to business travelers," who often must buy tickets at the last minute, said airport spokeswoman Cindy Maloney. Even travelers who buy tickets in advance should benefit, she said, "because other airlines will try to be competitive." For years, officials at Huntsville International have tried to lure a low-cost carrier such as Southwest Airlines. But, with Southwest already serving airports in Birmingham and Nashville, the airline saw no need to add Huntsville to its roster. Southwest, the nation's largest and most well-known low-fare airline, accounts for 19 to 24 percent of tickets purchased by travelers in Huntsville International's service region, according to airport officials. With Independence's entry into the market, "I think (some of those flyers) will probably stay at their home airport," Maloney said. "It'll depend on the cities" they want to fly to, she said. Independence will use 50-seat iJETs with all-leather seats configured to add an inch of legroom over other planes of similar size, DeLisi said. All flights are sold one-way and are available for sale on the Independence Web site, FLYi.com. Flights can also be booked at 1-800-FLY-FLYi (359-3594); phone bookings cost $5 more each way than Internet fares. Independence bookings are not available through third-party services such as Travelocity and Orbitz. Ninety percent of the airline's flights are booked online, DeLisi said. One of the "hallmarks" of Independence, he said, is having frequent flights "so we can be competitive for the business and leisure traveler." The airline has seven daily flights in Nashville; six in Savannah, Ga.; nine through Greensboro, N.C.; 14 in Raleigh, N.C.; 16 in Newark, N.J.; and 16 in Boston. The airline's frequent flyer program, called iCLUB, gives one point for each dollar spent on Independence tickets. There are no restrictions or blackout dates limiting their use, DeLisi said. Independence began service June 16, with flights to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Newark and Raleigh/Durham. It started service to Nashville July 1 and to Knoxville July 23. The airline will be in 35 cities by Sept. 1, DeLisi said. By then, it will offer a schedule of more than 600 daily departures. The airline will start adding 27 new 132-passenger Airbus A319s at Dulles this fall. The Airbus aircraft will allow Independence to offer nonstop service from Washington to Florida and the West Coast, starting in November. Those cities will be announced this month, DeLisi said. With the addition of the A319s, the Independence fleet will grow to more than 110 jet aircraft. "The overall goal for planes, on a systemwide basis, is to reach the low 70s" in the percentage of seats filled, DeLisi said. Independence's parent company is Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, based in Dulles, Va. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.