Skybus, citizens' panel debut at Stewart

Skybus was true to its word when it debuted last week at Stewart International Airport in New Windsor. CEO Bill Diffenderfer announced Skybus' imminent arrival as Stewart's newest carrier during the Port Authority takeover ceremony Nov 1. He also did what he said he would do: keep planes flying. No sooner did Skybus make its inaugural landing than it was back up in the air for a return flight to its home city.

Skybus' original hub is in Columbus, Ohio, where it flies to 15 cities and now the Hudson Valley.

From Stewart, you can catch a flight to Columbus and then make your own connection to travel onward. Skybus' new hub is in Greensboro, N.C., in Piedmont Triad International Airport, and service to Greensboro is expected to begin Feb. 25. The no-frills airline offers $10 seats for the first 10 tickets sold per flight. With tax and airline fees, it comes out to be closer to $40.

The airline is not releasing statistics on how many people are using. the service, but Diffenderfer pledged if business was steady he'd increase service out of Stewart to other cities.