Same airline, just a different name before RFD launch

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

Goodbye Air Azul, hello JetAmerica.

The rebranded airline will launch July 1 with a bigger airplane, some lower fares and plans for quick expansion.

From Rockford, it will fly twice a week to Baltimore and two or three times a week to Newark, N.J., though the exact schedule is still being finalized, said Sharon McDermott, director of airline services.

More flights to those destinations could come within a year, with preliminary plans for winter service to Melbourne and another Florida city.

Flights will be on Boeing 737-800s operated by Miami Air International. The planes will have 189 seats; nine seats on every flight will be for $9 each way, plus taxes and fees; other seats will be as low as $69, plus taxes and fees.

Because of the larger planes, “there’s a greater opportunity to get that lower fare,” McDermott said. “It’s a low-cost carrier so that people who can’t afford to fly can fly.”

JetAmerica will focus on ancillary revenues, charging passengers fees each way for luggage ($10 for a first bag, $25 for a second), $10 for advanced seat assignments, $10 for online bookings, $20 for phone bookings, and for food and drinks, following the lead Allegiant Air and Skybus Airlines.

JetAmerica’s holding company, Florida-based Sun America, ditched the Air Azul name before launching because there was confusion with other airlines, McDermott said. She wouldn’t identify specific airlines, but others with similar names include JetBlue and Brazilian company Azul Airlines.

“The more we don’t use that word, the better everybody is,” McDermott said. “We just felt that (it) wasn’t a good brand for us and we needed to individualize our own brand, make it a really low-cost carrier with a great plane.”

JetAmerica also has a new CEO, who will be announced later. Former head Michael Sadler will stay with the Air Azul brand, McDermott said.

The flights are public charters — the only differences passengers will see from traditional service is that another airline operates the flights and payments will go into an escrow account until takeoff.

The airline will start taking reservations Monday, May 11,  at 727-451-3970 and at a Web site to be announced.

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com

 

 

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