Airlines

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2005/09/26/daily31.html

Independence Air, a low-fare airline, is making some adjustments to its flight plan and is reportedly considering adding service to an unnamed Caribbean destination.   

The company’s CEO, Kerry Skeen, said the current business strategy for the Washington, DC-based company is to increase total Airbus departures by serving more East Coast destinations and fewer cities in the West. “The Airbus jets used on the West Coast routes will be redeployed on flights to Chicago O’Hare, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and to a city in the Caribbean that will be announced this week,” the Washington Post reported. The Web. site is http://www.flyi.com

United Airlines has added mid-week direct flights from Washington and Chicago to St. Thomas, while Spirit Airlines plans new service from Fort Lauderdale.  United’s flights include new Tuesday and Thursday service direct from Dulles International airport in the nation’s capitol.  Spirit Airlines will fly a daily Fort Lauderdale non-stop to St. Thomas.  Spirit operates flights from 11 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago and Providence.

Buy your ticket by midnight next Tuesday (March 2), and American Airlines will fly you for a cheaper fare than usual. Sample ticket prices, good for travel Monday through Thursday: Boston-St.T., $339 and San Francisco to St Thomas, $437.  The round trip fares are available on the airline’s Web site, AA.com.

The effort begun by Mark and Nanci Shekleton to encourage people to send e-mail to Jet Blue urging them to begin service to St. Thomas has had some impact.  One the readers of NewsofStJohn said he got a cordial, if uncommitted reply.  "we appreciate your interest in St. Thomas,  USVI as a future JetBlue destination," the message to Franco Fellah read. "As a growing airline, JetBlue is continuously evaluating  new cities to serve."  Another reader commented on the item, saying that he sees Jet Blue flying NY to San Juan for less than $100. "If Jet Blue offers fares for under $200 to STT, I can come down four more times a year," he said. That, "would be quite a boost to the economy." Contact Jet Blue at http://www.jetblue.com/speakup/questions.asp

An island couple is doing their part to encourage Jet Blue to begin service to the islands.  The low-cost/high-service airline announced plans last year to acquire more planes and increase service to the Caribbean, but didn’t get specific.  Now, Mark and Nanci Shekleton are suggesting an e-mail campaign to persuade the airline to put St. Thomas on its route map.  "We’ve blitzed them with e-mails the past week. although it’s a long shot," conceded Nanci who, with her husband, own Sea View Vacation Homes, a villa management agency.  Contact the airline at http://www.jetblue.com/speakup/questions.asp.

(This story’s getting comments.  Add yours, and we’ll send ’em all to Jet Blue.)

Last week’s price cuts by Delta Airlines apparently won’t benefit Virgin Islands residents or vacationers.  The new pricing, matched quickly by  American and U.S. Airways on competitive routes, applys only to flights in the 48 states.  A spokesman for Delta Airlines told the Virgin islands Daily News there are no plans to expanding its new price program to the VIs. Both American and U.S. Airways are already offering some limited price reductions to the Virgin Islands. 

The five-year-old free monthly VI "Virgin Voice" has won a deal to be distributed at the Cruzan Rum tourist welcome booth at the St. Thomas Airport.  The publication regularly includes feature stories about St. John.  The Web site is VirginVoices.com.

American Airlines has introduced a new feature on its Web site which, business being business, could be copied by competitors.  Go to AA.com and shop for the best fare to St. Thomas, and if you’re flexible – you can see what’s the best price on fares a month out.  With a click, you can also search for cheaper fares at nearby airports. Online travel services Expedia and Orbitz also offer the flexible search within-a-month feature, too. Details on American’s new features.

Sept. 19 — US Airways announced at about Noon Tuesday it is offering special sale fares throughout its system for two days only. Roundtrip prices start as low as $179 for Caribbean travel – but it may not include OUR Caribbean. An initial search of fares found no discount to St. Thomas midweek from LaGuardia or Washington National – tickets about $450. (I did find a deal for about $200 from Nashville!) Special fare offerings are for Monday-Thursday, and travel must be completed by Dec. 16. Purchase tickets no later than Wednesday.