http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009905210334&NL=1 Article published May 21, 2009 Air carrier's South Bend launch pending By ED RONCO Tribune Staff Writer SOUTH BEND -- The air carrier that was to launch as Air Azul, with flights from here to Newark, N.J., will instead take off at the end of next month under the name "JetAmerica." The company had planned to start flights on June 2 under the Air Azul name. But its Web site disappeared and customers received letters canceling their reservations. The letters announced Air Azul was changing its name and new information would come out May 4, along with information on how to rebook. Now, the public air charter company -- different from an airline because another company actually owns and operates its aircraft -- expects to start flying by the end of June. "They've gone through an awful lot," said John Schalliol, director of South Bend Regional Airport. "They've had some real problems -- not their fault."Those problems included a falling out with an airport in Kentucky and concerns that the Air Azul name would be too easily confused with competitor Jet Blue. "Azul" means "blue" in Spanish. Sharon McDermott, director of airline services for JetAmerica, could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. She told The Tribune in April that the new carrier likely would be off the ground by June 30 and that the carrier will sell nine seats on every flight for $9 each. That move mimics the erstwhile airline Skybus, a low-cost carrier based in Columbus, Ohio, for less than a year, from May 2007 until it ceased operations in April 2008. It also appears JetAmerica will be inheriting SkyBus founder John Weikle in some capacity, Schalliol said.Weikle has been linked to the new venture in news reports, including one in The Cincinnati Enquirer that reported Weikle toured the city's airport, which is just over the river in Kentucky. And Schalliol said radio commercials for JetAmerica are getting ready to air. He's looking forward to the start of service in South Bend. "They're locked into this $9 per ticket for the first nine seats on every flight," he said. "That's a pretty neat hook. I think we're going to get a lot of play out of that." Staff writer Ed Ronco: eronco@xxxxxxxxxxx (574) 235-6353 ________________________________ <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".