Skybus, the low-cost air carrier that recently made the Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTIA) in Greensboro, N.C. its new hub, has just announced that will begin service from Greensboro to Chicago and to Philadelphia. Flights to these cities will begin March 13th.

“We’re excited to add Philadelphia and Chicago to our list of great destinations,” says Bill Diffenderffer, chief executive of Skybus. “And we’re excited to offer our passengers in these markets our unique combination of nonstop flights, less-congested airports and outrageously low fares.”

In keeping with its strategy of using only highly-efficient airports, Skybus’ new service will operate from New Castle Airport in Wilmington, DE, located about 35 miles from Center City Philadelphia, and Gary/Chicago International Airport, located 25 miles from downtown Chicago’s famed loop.

Tickets for the new service went on sale this week, with 10 seats for $10 on every regularly scheduled flight, and many more tickets at Skybus’ low fares.

The air carrier has also added a second daily nonstop to Ft. Lauderdale from Greensboro.

Skybus’ pricing structure is designed to offer passengers the lowest fares available, and then allow them to choose as many or as few add-ons as they like. Passengers have the option to check baggage, obtain priority boarding, and purchase a wide range of food and beverages and gift items on board their flight. All fares are also subject to fees and taxes applied to all airline tickets by the federal government and local airports.

The Skybus website at www.skybus.com offers customers the ability to easily find the lowest fare available. Rather than being forced to search for flights on one given day, a unique “fare calendar” shows at a glance the lowest fare available for an entire month, allowing them to shop for a fare that suits their budget.

Skybus is able to keep its fares significantly below its competitors’ fares by using state-of-the-art technology to ensure high productivity; minimizing the time its aircraft are parked at gates or spending time taxiing on runways by using only highly efficient airports; flying all Airbus A319 full-size jets, one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in commercial service; providing customers with an informative, easy-to-navigate website that allows them to make and change reservations, rent cars, reserve hotel and resort accommodations, and purchase admission to popular attractions without the need for an expensive call center; and maximizing revenue through a variety of ways, including onboard food, beverages and gift sales, and advertising on both the inside and outside of Skybus’ fleet.