Cielobús

Cielobús SA (lit. Skybus) is an headquartered in Cocha, Carrizal, Ventora. The airline is notable for its numerous additional charges above its base fare.

History
The company was formed in 1999 and began operations in 2001. The airline originally flew just three routes. Over time, its service has grown to include 32 destinations.

Cielobús is considering expansion into the Watanese market if it can avoid extra costs for cross-border operations. Such growth is at least two years off since the airline would need to purchase additional aircraft and enter into agreements with airports at the new destinations.

Destinations
Regularly scheduled service calls on 32 destinations. They are all domestic to avoid the complications of international customs and immigration regulations.

Fleet
The only aircraft model flown is the in a single-class configuration with 100 seats. This allows the airline to keep crew training and aircraft maintenance costs low due to the single aircraft type. The seating arrangement permits the company to operate flights with two flight attendants in accordance with requirements for one attendant per 50 passengers.

Business model
Cielobús aggressively keeps costs low by outsourcing as much as possible, typically to its subsidiaries. It also seeks to increase revenues through add-on charges for amenities, sale of advertising in aircraft, such as on overhead bins, and sale of ancillary goods via duty-free goods trolleys on board. The airline leases its aircraft from subsidiary Cieloflota. Another subsidiary, Cieloservicios, handles aircraft maintenance and servicing, including ground crew and baggage handling. Flight attendants and customer service personnel are employed by subsidiary Cielotripulación. Flight attendants also fulfill gate agent duties prior to their flights. The airline only sells single segment flights. As a result, it does not through-check baggage to connecting flights nor does it recognize any liability for missed connections, even if the follow-on flight is also on Cielobús since they are separate bookings. As a result, the airline almost never has lost baggage, thereby eliminating the need to staff a baggage service office.

To reduce costs, Cielobús operates out of older terminals at a number of aerodromes and frequently uses gate assignments at the end of a concourse. Such gates are less desirable because they are less convenient for passengers due to distance from the terminal. In addition, aircraft access is frequently by way of exterior stairs to avoid the expense of a jetway. Most flights are scheduled outside of prime hours in order to take advantage of lower airport fees.

Fares
The airline advertises extremely low fares, starting at just 10 standards (Ɇ). The company's slogan is "Solo los pájaros vuelan más barato" (lit. "Only birds fly cheaper"). However, the lowest advertised fare does not include taxes and fees, such as the airport landing fee, credit card processing fee, and a mandatory standard booking fee. Further, the lowest fares are typically available for only 10% of a flight and must be booked well in advance. The fare increases after the limited low fare seats are sold and as booking gets closer to the flight date. Bookings are only accepted online in order to avoid the need for a call center to take reservations.

Additional charges
Beyond the basic fare, the airline levies numerous additional charges. Passengers who do not print out their boarding pass and check in online must pay a fee to check in using a kiosk at the airport and there is an additional charge to print a boarding pass from the kiosk. Beyond one personal item, there are fees for carry-on and checked baggage. There is a 10 Ɇ surcharge for baggage fees not paid online and an additional 20 Ɇ surcharge if the fee is paid at the gate.

The single-class seating is unassigned except for exit rows, which must be reserved online for a surcharge during booking. Passengers may pay an additional fee for early boarding, which must be done online at the time of booking. Otherwise, seat selection is first-come, first-served. Open seating also facilitates quicker boarding and deboarding.

Ancillary revenue
Nearly 20% of Cielobús' revenue comes from. Beyond a single complimentary water, other food and beverage options are offered for sale as part of a scheme. Choices depend on flight length, but typically include snacks, sandwiches, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. Another source of revenue is the duty-free gift shop cart. The airline sells space on the cart to merchandisers to make their products available to passengers. The airline also takes in revenues, keeping money above the cost of products sold.

In 2011, Cielobús began charging 1 Ɇ to use the lavatory on board the aircraft, with an exception for persons with disabilities and seniors aged 70 or older. Access to the lavatory is controlled by a credit card reader. Passengers exempted from the fee must request a paper magnetic stripe pass from a flight attendant. The fee is not popular but the airline justifies it based on the cost of consumables and cleaning. Since most flights are under two hours, the fee has not been a large revenue source.

Advertising provides another revenue stream managed by subsidiary Cieloanuncio. Advertising on overhead bin doors represents the most visible source, but ads on boarding passes and baggage claims actually generate more revenue because of their easy placement and extremely low cost.

No frills
To keep turnaround times short, and reduce weight, Cielobús' aircraft cabins have a simple, easy to clean design. The seats do not recline, to reduce weight, and there is no pocket in the seat back. The traditional aircraft safety card is affixed to the underside of the tray table so it is legible when the tray table is stowed. The interior motif is blue and white, despite the airline's red corporate color, as a more soothing design.

In 2008, the airline stopped having blankets and pillows available for purchase on its flights. Aircraft do not offer and there are no options for. There are no plans to offer these features in the future. Similarly, no seats have power available for customer use. Cielobús considered eliminating window shades in new aircraft purchases to save cost and weight. The idea was dropped when it was assessed to have negligible benefit and could actually increase costs since closed shades help keep aircraft interiors cooler, thereby avoiding energy consumption.

Employee wages
Pilots and corporate services employees comprise the largest groups of direct employees. Pilot pay is typically lower than many other airlines and they do not receive, but their work day is generally 8 to 10 hours compared to the industry average of 12 to 14. They also rarely have to remain overnight away from home since most of Cielobús' routes are short hauls. The airline also coordinates schedules to ensure crews return to their home airfields on their last flights. Flight deck crew have the option to participate in an employee stock distribution scheme.

Other employees, including flight attendants and ground and maintenance personnel, are primarily employed by a subsidiary company. Flight attendants have an hourly rate lower than their counterparts at major airlines, but their pay begins when the assume gate agent duties. Like pilots, they do not receive per diem and almost always end their work day at their home airfield. Flight attendants can substantially improve their earnings since they receive a 10% commission on all goods and services they sell on board the aircraft and at the gate. Ground crews have lower wages than full service airlines but do not have to ensure baggage makes connecting flights. Maintenance personnel earn wages comparable to the industry average.

In addition to providing employer contributions for pension and health care programs, the company and its subsidiaries have a profit-sharing plan. The objective of the plan is to encourage employees to contribute to lower costs and enhanced revenues for the benefit of the company and the employees.

Criticisms
Deceptively low fare advertisements and additional fees are the most common complaints since all Cielobús base fares have administrative and airport fees added to them. The company has been the subject of several investigations by the Fair Trade Division of the Open Markets Board. All of the investigations have been closed without penalty to the airline since it does disclose the existence of the additional costs, albeit in.

With no agreement for rebooking on other airlines, when Cielobús cancels flights, its passengers are generally stranded until they can be placed on another of the carrier's future flights. Passengers who chose to fly on another airline must buy a ticket on that carrier; there are no refunds for Cielobús tickets once purchased. The company does not charge a rebooking fee when it cancels flights, but there are fees to rebook when a passenger wants to change their itinerary or misses their flight. A traveler may take a voucher for a future Cielobús flight of their choice in lieu of rebooking, however.

Passengers universally dislike the lavatory fee but there are no indications the airline will discontinue it. Some disabled persons and seniors do not realize they could request a no charge lavatory pass so they end up paying the fee. Cielobús does not have a mechanism for passengers to request a refund of the lavatory fee if they were entitled to free access. The company is currently in litigation over its general refuse to provide refunds.

The airline is a frequent topic of jokes, particularly in regard to the numerous fees it assesses. In 2007, after passengers were evacuated from an aircraft due to an engine fire, several jokes circulated implying Cielobús likely charged a "fun fee" for passengers to use the escape slide. Some remarks suggested they would expect the company to charge a fee for the bus from the disabled aircraft on the tarmac to the terminal as well. Cielobús actually provided passengers of that flight with vouchers to cover booking fees for a future trip on the airline through the end of the next year.

Accidents and incidents

 * On May 23, 2007, the port engine of flight 847 caught fire following a on approach to Guacalito Global Aerodrome. The automatic fire suppression system failed to operate and manually operating the system was ineffective. Upon landing, passengers and crew evacuated via slides through the right rear door with no reported injuries. Airfield fire services extinguished the blaze, saving the aircraft, but not the wing or engine.