bc2209
Well-Known Member
http://www.pea.com/blog/posts/4-strange-airline-start-ups-flopped/
Hooters Air
Maybe Hooters should’ve stuck to the restaurant business. Hooters Air, which started in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2003, featured scantily clad women in orange shorts and busty tops just like the international restaurant chain. But the airline only lasted three years, flying its last flight in 2006. While a non-traditional business model gained the interest of men everywhere, the airline struggled with competitive prices and increasing fuel prices, eventually throwing in the towel to focus on charter flights.
Smintair
In 2004, German entrepreneur Alexander Schloppmann had plans to start and airline called SmintAir. SmintAir, which is short for Smoker’s International Airlines, would target businessmen who wanted to indulge in cigarettes and extra legroom while flying. According to Schloppmann’s website, the airline planned to fly two Boeing 747 from Dusseldorf to Tokyo, but failed due to a lack of financing when the bank pulled out at the last minute.
Naked Air
As if Hooters Air wasn’t explicit enough, Naked Air planned to offer nude flights from Miami to Cancun. The brainchild of Castaways Travel in Houston, Naked Air started as a joke but actually took off. For one flight in 2003, 90 passengers disrobed in mid-air to celebrate the launch of Naked Air in conjunction with Nude Week in Cancun. And then the “airline” ceased operations.
Pet Airways
Launched in 2009, Pet Airways flew pets to nine cities in the U.S. Its passengers, known as “pawsengers” were charged an average of $500 per flight and were given first-class treatment. Pets were walked prior to boarding, were given seats in the climate-controlled cabin and checked on every 15 minutes by trained professionals. In 2011, Pet Airways lost its contract with aircraft operator Suburban Air Freight. The company folded in 2013 after years of financial tension. Without any formal announcement that it was ceasing operations, Pet Airways started cancelling flights, leaving its “pawsengers” stranded and pet owners outraged.
Hooters Air
Maybe Hooters should’ve stuck to the restaurant business. Hooters Air, which started in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2003, featured scantily clad women in orange shorts and busty tops just like the international restaurant chain. But the airline only lasted three years, flying its last flight in 2006. While a non-traditional business model gained the interest of men everywhere, the airline struggled with competitive prices and increasing fuel prices, eventually throwing in the towel to focus on charter flights.
Smintair
In 2004, German entrepreneur Alexander Schloppmann had plans to start and airline called SmintAir. SmintAir, which is short for Smoker’s International Airlines, would target businessmen who wanted to indulge in cigarettes and extra legroom while flying. According to Schloppmann’s website, the airline planned to fly two Boeing 747 from Dusseldorf to Tokyo, but failed due to a lack of financing when the bank pulled out at the last minute.
Naked Air
As if Hooters Air wasn’t explicit enough, Naked Air planned to offer nude flights from Miami to Cancun. The brainchild of Castaways Travel in Houston, Naked Air started as a joke but actually took off. For one flight in 2003, 90 passengers disrobed in mid-air to celebrate the launch of Naked Air in conjunction with Nude Week in Cancun. And then the “airline” ceased operations.
Pet Airways
Launched in 2009, Pet Airways flew pets to nine cities in the U.S. Its passengers, known as “pawsengers” were charged an average of $500 per flight and were given first-class treatment. Pets were walked prior to boarding, were given seats in the climate-controlled cabin and checked on every 15 minutes by trained professionals. In 2011, Pet Airways lost its contract with aircraft operator Suburban Air Freight. The company folded in 2013 after years of financial tension. Without any formal announcement that it was ceasing operations, Pet Airways started cancelling flights, leaving its “pawsengers” stranded and pet owners outraged.
