Independence Airlines - Any Info On This New Airline?

[Christine]

I just heard this morning that Independence Airlines will be announcing their new service out of Dulles Airport (Northern Virginia). As of today, their destinations are a "secret" but I'm really hoping for an Virginia to Orlando flight. They have stated that they are going to be the first low-fare airline out of Dulles and that they are directly competing with Baltimore-Washington Airport (Southwest Airlines).

They will be also operating to/from 50 other cities. Anyone have any inside scoop? I noticed that AirTran's prices out of BWI are down this morning due to what *I* think is a preemptive strike at an airfare war here in DC to Orlando. Oh, I'm so excited!

Edited to add: Indepence Air will be making their announcement tommorrow at 11:00 a.m. (EST) on their website. They will begin selling tickets and will have their destinations available. (www.flyi.com)

[Horace Horsecollar]

Independence Air: http://www.flyi.com/

Independence Air will be the new name for the airline that is currently called Atlantic Coast Airlines, but which operates as United Express out of Dulles Airport. The plan is to break away from affiliation with United Airlines and to reposition the airline as a low-cost carrier. It's more than just a name change. It involves new routes, new planes, and a new business model.

Here's a USA Today article from December 18. 2003: http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztravel/2003-12-18-atlanticcoast_x.htm

The details will be released tomorrow -- Wednesday, May 19. See the press release: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040517/dcm015_1.html

[DaveH]

I heard about these guys awhile back. There goal is by the end of the year of having 300 flights a day out of Dulles. We live a few miles from Dulles and any savings for us to go to BWI have never been enough. The only non stop for us to Orlando is United. I am looking forward to see where thay are starting to go to first and what kind of special fares to start with.

[Horace Horsecollar]

This morning, Independence Air announced their first 35 destinations. Service to these destinations will be phased in between June 16 and September 1.

See http://www.flyi.com/

Surprisingly, not a single Florida airport is on the list.

It seems that Independence Air is initially concentrating on business routes, where fares tend to be very high -- ignoring leisure routes where there is cutthroat fare competition.

[Shannon G]

Surprisingly, not a single Florida airport is on the list.

I looked at their site this morning, and it appears that they do have flights to Jacksonville, but not to any other Florida airports.

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by Shannon G
I looked at their site this morning, and it appears that they do have flights to Jacksonville, but not to any other Florida airports.
You're right! Good catch.

I guess I was just looking for Orlando, Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Melbourne -- all without success.

[Christine]

Yes, I looked at the site also this morning and was VERY bummed that they had so few Florida routes.

[Shannon G]

Yes, I looked at the site also this morning and was VERY bummed that they had so few Florida routes.

Me too. When I heard they would be flying out of Hartford, I got excited. But, with no flights to MCO or Tampa - bummer.

[StephMK]

I signed up for their free email updates & got the message this morning. It says they will be adding several flights/states this fall & mentioned Florida as one of them. Hoping they have fantastic air for when we go at Halloween.

If you sign up for their newsletter & register, you can get $25 off your first flight w/them!