Helicopter service from NYC cut – USH halts flights

Posted by Seth on September 25, 2009 under Uncategorized | 3 Comments to Read

US Helicopter, the service that provides connections from Newark and JFK airports to two heliports in Manhattan, has suspended all service, both scheduled and charter.  According to the release on their website it is a “standown” of service and they will be reorganizing their operations with an eye on restarting service in November.

We are temporarily halting all service as we regroup to add aircraft to our fleet and introduce new routes. This ‘standown’ of service applies to our scheduled flights as well as our charter service. We plan to return to the skies of New York – a bigger and better airline – by late November. For information on refunds for tickets you hold for future travel, please contact your credit card company for a credit or refund. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we look forward to serving you again very soon with our 8 Minute Airport Shuttle.

While this certainly is unfortunate, it is also not all that surprising.  The two times I used the service I was the only person on the helicopter.  They recently offered a huge sale – $59 each way – in an effort to drum up some cash but it doesn’t look like it was enough.  I hope they are flying again in December and that they have the deal on offer; I’ve got a trip planned and it would be fun to do it again if it is cheap.  But at $159 each way the value just doesn’t seem to be there for me.  And apparently not for enough other people either.

Helo a deal from Delta & US Helicopter

Posted by Seth on September 17, 2008 under Uncategorized | Be the First to Comment

Delta and US Helicopter have been partnered for a while providing connectivity between JFK airport and Manhattan’s two heliports.  Initially they were just sharing terminal space.  Then Delta added an tag-on helicopter transfer to full fare trans-Atlantic business tickets out of JFK.  Now they’ve expanded it even more, adding a $45 fare for anyone flying a domestic trip on a full coach fare (Y/B/M fare classes).  I cannot find all the details so I’m not 100% sure of any other conditions on the deal, but it seems like a good opportunity.  Some of the Y fares are actually pretty cheap where there is competition with other carriers, and the $45 is the same as a cab fare.

The helicopter ride is a great way to get in and out of Manhattan.  I wouldn’t pay the $159 on a regular basis, but at $45 it is a great opportunity and definitely worth trying if you otherwise qualify.