Public Records Request & Skybus

To date I have received none of the information that I requested from our airport liaison nor have I received any correspondence in reference to them. On another avenue Skybus has become the first airline to utilize the exterior fuselage space available to advertisers.

This from the Businesswire.com:

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skybus Airlines and Nationwide today unveiled the airline’s first “branded” airplane. The Airbus A319 displays a large Nationwide logo and the tagline, “Nationwide is On Your Side,” on the exterior of its fuselage. “At Skybus, our goal is to provide outrageously low fares to our passengers – fares significantly lower than what Columbus passengers are currently experiencing,” said Bill Diffenderfer, Skybus CEO. “One of the ways we are able to do this is by offering both traditional and non-traditional marketing opportunities – like advertising on our planes. We’re excited and proud to partner with Nationwide, another Columbus-based, hometown company, on our first co-branded plane.”

Skybus is believed to be the only U.S.-based domestic carrier to currently make exterior fuselage space available to advertisers. Advertising opportunities are available on all Skybus planes as well as on the interior of the plane, allowing advertisers to create a complete “brand experience” for passengers. Nationwide will also place branded images inside the plane, including on the plane’s tray tables, overhead bins and restroom doors.

“This is another example of how innovation will help us cut through the clutter,” said Jim Lyski, Nationwide’s chief marketing officer. “We’re excited to be the first to demonstrate how this new medium can deliver our brand to consumers on a grand scale.” Nationwide has introduced a series of innovative marketing efforts in the past year, most notably, the most talked about ad from this year’s Super Bowl, featuring Kevin Federline.

Nationwide was one of several Columbus companies, including Huntington Banks, Battelle and Wolfe Enterprises, to provide initial investment dollars for Skybus. Local investment in Skybus also includes other local companies and individual investors.

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $158 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #98 on the Fortune 100 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions and long-term savings plans. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Skybus Airlines, based in Columbus, Ohio, is the next generation of low-fare airlines. The airline expects to begin nonstop service to major U.S. markets from Port Columbus in spring 2007. For more information about Skybus, visit www.skybus.com, or for in-flight advertising opportunities, contact sales@skybus.com.