Citing continuing difficulty in obtaining slots at Newark airport to support its charter flights, startup JetAmerica has suspended sales and the planned launch of operations.
"We are reluctantly suspending our public charter operations effective today," says John Weikle, current JetAmerica chief executive in a statement. Weikle was the founder of now defunct Skybus Airlines.
The carrier says its business plan never called for paying more than a half-million dollars for slots.
On 3 July Weikle said a change in FAA slot policy for indirect air carriers at Newark triggered a 31 day delay in launching flights.
Despite the latest suspension Weikle says the carrier still strongly believes "there is an unmet need for affordable air service to secondary markets and we look forward to offering this option again in the near future".
This month JetAmerica had aimed to launch flights from Toledo, Ohio and Lansing, Michigan to New York Newark Liberty International airport. Flights from Newark to South Bend, Indiana and Melbourne, Florida were also originally scheduled to begin this month.
The carrier was subcontracting a single Boeing 737-800 from Miami Air International.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
