Skybus Airline's first passenger flight took off from Port Columbus today.  The fleet of 8 jets (with 65 on order) will service 9 cities.  Today's first flight was en route to Burbank California.  Therein lies the catch.  It's not exactly direct to Los Angeles, but hey, it's close.  It's close to Boston and Seattle too.

With cheap seats available on each and every flight -- ordered only through their website--Skybus is looking to out-Southwest Southwest Airlines in the fast casual of the friendly skies.  Who cares if preferred boarding costs $10 extra or sodas set you back a few dollars?  $10 airline tickets and prices 25% less than their nearest competition are the lure that the airlines, headquartered in Columbus, hopes will bring travelers from all over the region.

It won't mean much to the Columbus housing market but it will help the Airport, the hotels, the taxis, the city coffers and our Global Profile a bit.  If it works.  I think it has a shot.  The local media were all over this story, have been for months.  According to local news channel WBNS, over 200,000 airline tickets had been sold for Skybus as of yesterday.  It is pretty exciting and it does involve many local movers and shakers who've financially backed some aspect of the operation or thrown in a good word.

Pilots need homes too, as do the men and women walking into world headquarters everyday, not mention mechanics, increased airport employees and tarmac guys.  They're even selling advertising inside and outside the planes.  Maybe a 20 foot long banner on the ceiling  . . . Columbus Homes Blog.com . . . . . .