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Breaking news in Dublin and all of Central Ohio… I started to title this “Where’s the beef?” but I just used that title about Wendy’s a few weeks ago.

This is no joke… breaking news. Triarc, the owner of Arby’s is buying Dublin Ohio based Wendy’s according to Channel 4 news.

“in an all-stock deal worth $2.34 billion.”

Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas’ family is not happy with the board of dircectors decision.

This was a joke about Wendy’s… red head protest.

“Where’s the beef?”

Skybus Airlines a 10 month old Columbus Company went out of business a week ago siting rising fuel costs.  According to travel industry insiders… there were clues…  Not everyone saw the clues though…  Jaunted.com “The Pop Culture Travel Guide” wrote Skybus Not Planning Anything Stupid” on March 13, 2008.  I believe that was 11 days before CEO  Bill Diffenderffer left Skybus.

On March 17, 2008  Jaunted.com wrote about new routes… for Skybus Airlines.

There was a Jaunted entry about Diffenderffer leaving Skybus on 3/26/2008 at 11:56 AM.  If I am not mistaken the announcement of Diffenderffer’s departure from the ground breaking low cost airline was made on the March 24, 2008.   There was news of Skybus announcements on April 1, 2008 on Jaunted.com, they were the stuff April Fool’s Day  is all about.   Three days later Skybus announced it was closing up shop.

Many in the aviation industry said Skybus was a foolish idea from the start

Or maybe it’s just Skybus Airlines.   The demise of Skybus Airlines which was based in Columbus was news last week… into this week.

Last week Friday I had a comment on one of my Columbus blogs from a family member of someone who lost his job wanting Columbus to boycott the business.  I could not tell if it was a prank.  The reason the Grandview based business dismissed the employee was because the business  could not afford to pay the employee…   Gee I’d hate to see an economic boycott of a local company force more employees out on the street.  It is a very competitive business.

If the news of 450 Skybus employees hitting the streets of Columbus looking for employment wasn’t so fresh in my brain… I might not read of one person losing his job and the call for a boycott of the business is critically.

A friend emailed me a link to  a comment left on her blog about a new Central Ohio neighborhood.  The Powell neighborhood is under construction.  The person who left the comment is bad mouthing the developer and the neighborhood  because the neighborhood is still under construction eight months after he/she closed…  Not a particularly good move if you want to motivate people to buy in your neighborhood.

These people used to have to send a letter to the editor to vent their spleen now they have the internet…

Skybus is filing bankruptcy today…

“Aircrew Buzz” a travel industry site says the clues were there before Friday and of course they were, they were possibly easier to see from outside Columbus. Those in the industry seem to have some info we did not hear about from the local news…

Was it high fuel costs, as the Skybus website said on Friday? Four airlines folded last week. Or was Skybus murdered? For what it’s worth I would have bet it was Colonel Mustard in the drawing room with the candlestick….

A travel blog Elliot written by Chris Elliot said:

“Who killed Skybus Airlines? Here’s the surprising answer”

Was it Miss Management with a knife in the boardroom?

“The former Skybus manager says one executive in particular was to blame for poor morale. The executive, my source continues, had only one main concern: “Hire young pretty flight attendants with big boobs, and do not hire anyone fat.”

Was it snotty bloggers? Bloggers… lots of travel bloggers including Chris Elliott were very critical of the Skybus customer service or lack there of…Was Skybus’ death by it’s own hand?

Or was it Skybus itself with a rope in the hanger? Did Skybus commit suicide because the pilots wanted to unionize? Both Elliot.org and Aircrew Buzz mention the pilots wanted to unionize.

The Skybus Airlines website said of the 10 month old airline:

“Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective Saturday, April 5.

Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.

We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our employees and their families, customers, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.

Passengers holding reservations for Skybus flights scheduled to depart on or after Saturday, April 5, 2008 should contact their credit card companies to arrange to apply for a refund. More information for customers and others will be made available on the Skybus web site (www.skybus.com) as it becomes available.

All flights for Friday, April 4 will be completed. Passengers holding reservations on flights for Friday, April 4 should check in for their flight at a Skybus kiosk at the airport instead of the Skybus website. “

The Aircrew Buzz article Skybus Airlines Folds

I did not remember that I knew about Skybus or wrote about it on the original Columbus Best Blog in 2006.

Feb. 24, 2006 - Planes, Trains and Automobiles:

“The top story in today’s Columbus Dispatch Business section had news of a new LCC, Skybus Airlines, moving closer to starting up operations. The new airline has gained financing from several well-known organizations in the Columbus area, such as the Dispatch’s owners, Wolfe Enterprises.”

“The airline is shooting for a Fall 2006 date for their first flight. They plan to serve new destinations that are not currently served non-stop from Columbus. It is mentioned in the article, west coast cities are a high priority for Skybus.”

” Analysts are skeptical about starting a brand new carrier in the current state of the airline industry.”

Port Columbus - When pigs fly The Columbus based airline opened in 2007, and failed 10 months later, with the last day of operation Friday April 4, 2008.

I also mentioned Skybus when BlogTour USA hit Central Ohio last year…

Worthington - The Bus Stops Here!

Did you ever fly on Skybus?

I never did.

The Skybus Airlines site says:

 ”Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective Saturday, April 5.

Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.

We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our employees and their families, customers, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.

Passengers holding reservations for Skybus flights scheduled to depart on or after Saturday, April 5, 2008 should contact their credit card companies to arrange to apply for a refund. More information for customers and others will be made available on the Skybus web site (www.skybus.com) as it becomes available.

All flights for Friday, April 4 will be completed. Passengers holding reservations on flights for Friday, April 4 should check in for their flight at a Skybus kiosk at the airport instead of the Skybus website. “