Independence Air Details, Meaning Independence Air Article and Explanation Guide

Independence Air Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

Independence Air is a low-cost carrier with its major hub being Dulles International Airport of Washington DC. Since inception, it has made Dulles the largest low-cost hub in the United States. Independence Air is largely an eastern regional carrier covering an area ranging from as far west as Chicago and Detroit to as far south as Orlando to as far north as Burlington and Rochester.

Known as Atlantic Coast Airlines from 1989 to 2003 it operated as United Express for United Airlines and Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines. When partners United and Delta both declared bankruptcy and attempted to negotiate less favorable financial terms, the company became its own "independent" airline called Independence Air. During a lengthy process through the courts, it resisted a hostile takeover bid by Mesa Airlines to operate the first flight under the Independence banner on June 16, 2004.

Independence Air currently flies with Canadair regional jets, branded as "I-Jets" and customized in 2004 with leather seats. New Airbus A319 aircraft (also outfitted with leather seats) are scheduled to join the fleet in November of 2004, with 28 of the large planes joining the fleet by the end of 2005 to fly along with the CRJs. The first of these arrived at Dulles on September 9, 2004 to commence proving runs. Revenue service will start on November 3, 2004. Independence Air officals stated before launch that estimated CASM costs (CASM is how much it costs an airline to fly one seat one mile) were to be at about $0.22. The CASM for the Airbus is projected to be much lower, in the range of JetBlue's ($0.065 per mile). In comparison, Southwest's costs are about $0.075 a mile, and US Airways' are approximately $0.11.