SkyValue

SkyValue, formally identified as SkyValue USA, was a seasonal American low-cost airline associated with C First Class Corp. The airline was headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and used Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana, as its operating hub during its only season of passenger service. The airport is approximately 25 miles southeast of downtown Chicago and was promoted as a potential additional commercial gateway for the Chicago region. The company announced its planned operation on October 13, 2006. Its business model was designed around winter travel to warm-weather leisure destinations, with proposed Boeing 737-800 service beginning in December. SkyValue planned to offer five daily flights from Gary to a group of sunny destinations in the United States. Rather than functioning as a conventional fully integrated airline, it operated as a scheduled charter service, using aircraft and operating support obtained through a wet lease from Xtra Airways. Passenger service began on December 15, 2006, for a trial winter program that was intended to run through April 2007. The initial network included Phoenix/Mesa in Arizona, Orlando and St. Petersburg/Clearwater in Florida, and Las Vegas in Nevada, with Gary serving as the home base. The service was aimed primarily at leisure travelers seeking winter escapes and at customers within the broader Chicago-area market who could use Gary as an alternative airport. The winter operation reportedly carried more than 10,000 passengers. This level of traffic was described as supporting federal grants intended to help develop and expand Gary/Chicago International Airport, including the airport's ambitions to become a third commercial airport for the Chicago area. SkyValue also expanded its schedule to its most popular destination, Mesa, Arizona, by adding a third weekly flight from Gary. The airline's fleet changed during the season. It initially used an all-economy Boeing 737-800 wet leased from Xtra Airways. On April 23, 2007, that aircraft was returned and replaced with a smaller Boeing 737-400 configured with both business and economy seating. SkyValue had an option for a year-long lease of the replacement aircraft, with the option extending to April 2008, although the airline did not continue its scheduled service into another season. On April 27, 2007, SkyValue's chief executive announced that the airline would end service to all destinations as planned on May 6, 2007. The company indicated that it would consider returning for a subsequent winter season, but no later operating season is documented in the supplied reference material. SkyValue is therefore treated as a defunct airline brand whose commercial activity was limited to the 2006–07 winter schedule.

SkyValue was an American seasonal airline created to provide low-cost leisure flights from Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. The airline was formally known as SkyValue USA and was associated with C First Class Corp. Its headquarters were in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The venture was structured as a scheduled charter operation rather than as a conventional airline operating its own aircraft, and it relied on a wet lease from Xtra Airways for its initial equipment. On October 13, 2006, SkyValue announced plans to launch service during the 2006–07 winter season. The proposed operation centered on Gary/Chicago International Airport, an airport seeking to expand its role in the Chicago metropolitan area. SkyValue intended to market the airport as an alternative gateway for Chicago-area passengers and planned flights to five warm-weather destinations. The network was built around seasonal leisure demand, particularly travelers seeking destinations in the American Southwest, Florida, and Nevada. Scheduled passenger service began on December 15, 2006. The airline initially used a Boeing 737-800 configured entirely for economy-class seating. The aircraft was wet leased from Xtra Airways, meaning that the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance arrangements were supplied by the lessor while the service was marketed under the SkyValue name. The original winter program was described as a test operation running through April 2007, with continuation dependent on its commercial performance. The destinations served during the season were Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona, Orlando International Airport in Florida, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Florida, and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gary/Chicago International Airport functioned as the airline's hub. Although the planned announcement referred to five sunny destinations, the documented destination list identifies these four outlying markets in addition to Gary itself. The operation reportedly transported more than 10,000 passengers during the winter season. The traffic was presented as evidence that the service contributed to the development case for Gary/Chicago International Airport. It was also associated with federal grants intended to support airport expansion and the airport's goal of becoming a third major commercial airport serving the Chicago area. SkyValue subsequently added a third weekly flight to Mesa, Arizona, which had become its most popular destination. The fleet changed near the end of the season. On April 23, 2007, SkyValue returned its Boeing 737-800 to Xtra Airways and substituted a smaller Boeing 737-400. The replacement aircraft offered a mixed business-class and economy-class configuration, unlike the all-economy 737-800. SkyValue obtained an option for a year-long lease of the 737-400 that was scheduled to expire in April 2008, but this equipment arrangement did not result in a documented second season of service. On April 27, 2007, the company's chief executive announced that SkyValue would end flights to all destinations on May 6, 2007. The termination was described as occurring as planned at the close of the winter program. Management said it would consider providing the service during the following season, but no continuation is recorded in the supplied material. SkyValue consequently became a defunct airline after one documented season of operations. Its historical significance lies chiefly in its attempt to use seasonal scheduled charter flights to stimulate commercial activity at Gary/Chicago International Airport.

• 2007

  Mesa service is increased

  [1]SkyValueen.wikipedia.org

  A third weekly flight was added to Phoenix/Mesa after the destination became the airline's most popular route.

• 2007

  Aircraft substitution

  [1]SkyValueen.wikipedia.org

  On April 23, SkyValue returned its leased Boeing 737-800 and replaced it with a smaller Boeing 737-400 offering business and economy seating.

• 2007

  Scheduled service ends

  [1]SkyValueen.wikipedia.org

  SkyValue announced that flights to all destinations would end on May 6 after the 2006–07 winter season.

• 2006

  SkyValue USA announces its planned launch

  [1]SkyValueen.wikipedia.org

  On October 13, SkyValue announced plans for winter flights from Gary/Chicago International Airport to warm-weather U.S. destinations.

• 2006

  Passenger operations begin

  [1]SkyValueen.wikipedia.org

  SkyValue began service on December 15 using a wet-leased Boeing 737-800.

A seasonal, low-cost leisure airline using Gary/Chicago International Airport as an alternative Chicago-area gateway and connecting Midwestern travelers with warm-weather U.S. destinations.

• Passenger air travel · 2006

  Seasonal scheduled charter flights

  SkyValue's core offering was a winter-only scheduled charter service from Gary/Chicago International Airport to leisure destinations in the United States. The service was marketed as a low-cost alternative for Chicago-area travelers and was designed around demand for sunny destinations during the 2006–07 winter season.

• Seasonal domestic route · 2006

  Gary–Phoenix/Mesa service

  The Phoenix/Mesa route connected Gary with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. It became SkyValue's most popular destination and received an increase to three weekly flights during the winter operation.

• Seasonal domestic routes · 2006

  Gary–Florida service

  SkyValue served Orlando International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport from Gary. These Florida routes formed part of the airline's winter leisure network and targeted travelers seeking warmer-weather destinations.

• Seasonal domestic route · 2006

  Gary–Las Vegas service

  The airline operated seasonal service between Gary/Chicago International Airport and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. The route was part of SkyValue's leisure-focused network during its only documented operating season.

• 2007

  Replacement of the Boeing 737-800Generation change

  Background

  Near the end of the winter season, SkyValue changed the aircraft used for its scheduled charter service.

  Action taken

  On April 23, 2007, the airline returned its wet-leased Boeing 737-800 and substituted a smaller Boeing 737-400 with business- and economy-class seating.

  Aftermath

  The replacement aircraft was subject to a lease option extending to April 2008, but SkyValue ended its documented service before a second operating season.

  Source

• 2007

  Closure of the winter operationStrategy

  Background

  SkyValue's initial service was explicitly structured as a test run for the 2006–07 winter season.

  Action taken

  Management announced on April 27 that all flights would end on May 6, while indicating that a future seasonal service might be considered.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material records no return to service, and SkyValue is treated as defunct.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of a seasonal Gary-based airlineProduct launch

  Background

  SkyValue sought to test whether scheduled charter flights from Gary/Chicago International Airport could attract Chicago-area leisure travelers and support the airport's commercial development.

  Action taken

  The company announced a winter schedule to warm-weather U.S. destinations and began service on December 15, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The airline carried more than 10,000 passengers during the season, but no subsequent season is documented.

  Source

1. 1SkyValueen.wikipedia.org