People Express may be in US skies as early as this summer (Image aviationexplorer.com)

Once a pioneer of low cost carriers in the United States, People Express Airlines (or PeoplExpress) has announced that it hopes to start flying again this summer.

Based at Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport, VA, the carrier plans to initially offer flights to Pittsburgh, Newark, NJ and West Palm Beach, FL.

However, before take-off, the airline still needs approval from the federal government as well as financing.?? ?

According to Associated Press, chief operating officer Michael Morisi said the airline would not fly to large cities served by other airlines but instead service niche markets that are currently under served or had been left behind due to industry consolidation.???

¡°I think we can build a very nice operation serving dozens of cities and never really encroach on some of the major hub cities that other carriers are dominant in,¡± he said in an interview.

Among the factors that Mr Morisi says will help distinguish PeoplExpress from its rival budget airlines will be its non-union workforce, its free checked baggage allowance, its regionally focused food and beverage service, and its plans to only purchase Boeing 737s, AP reported.? ?

By using 158-seater jets, Mr Morisi says the carrier will be able to offer cheaper fares than regional airlines utilizing 70 or 80-seater aircraft.????

¡°There's no question. We will be significantly lower-priced than our competitors,¡± he stated.?

Hoping to raise around US$50 million, the new airline plans to have an initial public offering this spring.

Before merging with Continental Airlines, the old PeoplExpress was the country¡¯s fifth largest airline, flying from 1981 to 1987.?