[Robert Bing]

Skybus Airlines announced today it will add nonstop service from Columbus to the Philadelphia area via Wilmington, DE beginning March 7, and to Toronto via Niagara Falls, NY beginning April 1.

At the same time, Skybus announced it would begin service to Gary/Chicago International Airport and to Philadelphia, along with a second daily nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale, from its base at Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina beginning March 13.

“We’re excited to add Philadelphia, Toronto and Chicago to our list of great destinations,” said Bill Diffenderffer, Skybus CEO. “And we’re excited to offer our passengers in these markets our unique combination of nonstop flights, less-congested airports and outrageously low fares.”

With today’s announcement, Skybus will be serving 18 cities.

In keeping with its strategy of using only highly-efficient airports, Skybus’ new service will operate from:

* New Castle Airport in Wilmington, DE, located about 35 miles from Center City Philadelphia.
* Niagara Falls International Airport, convenient to the attractions of the Niagara Frontier and just 85 miles from downtown Toronto.
* Gary/Chicago International Airport, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago’s famed Loop.

Skybus’ pricing structure is designed to offer passengers the lowest fares available, and then allow them to choose as many or as few add-ons as they like. Passengers have the option to check baggage, obtain priority boarding, and purchase a wide range of food and beverages and gift items on board their flight. All fares are also subject to fees and taxes applied to all airline tickets by the federal government and local airports.