| Virgin America | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| IATA VX |
ICAO VRD |
Callsign REDWOOD |
| Founded | 2004 | |
| Commenced operations | August 8, 2007 | |
| Hubs | San Francisco International Airport[1] | |
| Focus cities | Los Angeles International Airport[2][3][4] | |
| Frequent flyer program | elevate | |
| Fleet size | 28[5] | |
| Destinations | 7 | |
| Parent company | Virgin America, Inc. | |
| Headquarters | Burlingame, California | |
| Key people | C. David Cush (CEO) Donald J. Carty (Chairman) Bob Dana (CFO) |
|
| Website: http://www.virginamerica.com | ||
Virgin America Inc. is a U.S. based low-cost airline that began service on August 8, 2007. The airline's stated aim is to provide low-fare, high-quality service for "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards".[6] San Francisco International Airport is Virgin America's principal base of operations.[1] Virgin America's frequent flyer program is known as eleVAte and runs on a "dollars spent versus miles accrued" model.[7]
Virgin America, though the brainchild of British entrepreneur Richard Branson, is a U.S. airline. By law, no more than 25% of a US airline may be owned by foreign interests and must be under the "actual control" of U.S. citizens;[8] VAI Partners LLC owns 75% of the capital stock and is responsible for appointing two-thirds of the voting members of the board of directors. The remaining 25% of the company is owned by Virgin Group,[9] which also licenses the Virgin brand to the airline. Virgin America is separate from Virgin Atlantic and as such is under no obligation to work with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Blue, Virgin Nigeria, Virgin Galactic or any other companies that share the Virgin brand name.
Contents |
[edit] History
In early 2004, Virgin Group announced its intent to start a new, United States-based, low-fare airline it named “Virgin USA”. At the time, Virgin USA expected flights to begin by mid-2005. After considering several key areas, the San Francisco Bay Area was picked to be the location of its flight operations center, and later its corporate headquarters.[10] The airline also changed its name from “Virgin USA” to “Virgin America”. Because it had trouble finding U.S. investors willing to gamble on a new airline, given the state of the already crowded U.S. airline industry, the launch date was pushed back from mid-2005 to early 2006.[11]
Virgin America secured its first amount of funding in late 2005 and submitted the required U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) certificate application.[12] The approval process was filled with debate from the support and opposition of the new airline. City and state representatives from California and New York led the support for the airline. The biggest opposition came from the Air Line Pilots Association (a national aviation labor union) and U.S. “legacy” airlines led by Houston-based Continental Airlines. The review of Virgin America’s application was prolonged because of this opposition, which claimed Virgin America would not be under U.S. ownership or control.[13] The application was denied by the Department of Transportation on December 27, 2006.[14]
In order to achieve the necessary approval, Virgin America proposed a restructuring of the airline: voting shares would be held by a DOT-approved trust and only two Virgin Group directors would be on the eight-person board. In addition, Virgin America said that it would consider removing Richard Branson from the board, and possibly even dropping the “Virgin” brand entirely.[15] The airline was also prepared to remove then CEO Fred Reid “should the DOT find that necessary”.[16]
Virgin America was tentatively cleared to fly by the U.S. DOT on March 20, 2007, but would not be given full permission until it changed its business structure by enacting several reforms as specified by the DOT. These reforms included the replacement of Fred Reid and the limiting of Virgin Group’s influence on the airline.[17] Virgin America fought to keep Fred Reid as CEO,[18] however as part of the DOT’s final approval in May, he was only allowed to stay on nine months after the airline certification, six months as CEO and three months as a consultant.[19]
Virgin America started selling tickets in July 2007. Two years delayed, the airline made its inaugural San Francisco and Los Angeles to New York flights on August 8, 2007. In December 2007, C. David Cush replaced Reid as CEO of the airline.[20]
Virgin America reported a $35 million loss during its first quarter of operations.[21] The airline expects to turn a profit by the second half of 2009.[22]
[edit] Corporate offices
Virgin America leases 42,000 square feet (3,900 m2) of space at Bay Park Plaza II (also known as the Forbes Building), a building at 555 Airport Boulevard in Burlingame, California owned, leased, and managed by Equity Office.[23] Virgin America occupies Suite 450 in the building, which is located across a lagoon from U.S. Highway 101 (Bayshore Freeway).[24][23]
[edit] Destinations
Virgin America plans on flying to major destinations throughout the United States and initially predicted that it would have approximately ten destinations within the first year of service and up to thirty after five years of service.[25]
At its San Francisco hub, Virgin America competes with United Airlines—a legacy carrier that provides substantial services from San Francisco—as well as Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways—low-cost carriers that serve all three San Francisco Bay Area airports.
Virgin America currently flies to seven destinations throughout the United States[26], with its eighth destination to open shortly.
Virgin America has plans to tentatively start service to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California in as early as Spring 2009. The airline has requested slots for five daily flights from its San Francisco hub. [27]
[edit] United States
[edit] California
- Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport)
- San Diego (San Diego International Airport)
- San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) Hub
[edit] Massachusetts
- Boston (Logan International Airport) [begins February 12][28]
[edit] Nevada
[edit] New York
[edit] Virginia
[edit] Washington
Additionally, Virgin America operates numerous weekly charter flights sold through Direct Air and Tours.
[edit] Fleet
Virgin America's fleet will consist of 34 Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft (19 purchased, 15 leased).[10] Virgin America received its first Airbus A320 on February 24, 2006. Part of Virgin America's existing fleet is used for charter flights arranged by Direct Air of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Virgin America solicited the public's help to name their aircraft, via a web contest. On October 11, 2006, the first aircraft was christened Jefferson Airplane after the San Francisco band. Former lead singer Grace Slick christened the plane along with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The two inaugural flights on August 8, 2007, were on A320s named Air Colbert, named after comedian Stephen Colbert, and California Dreaming.
The Virgin America fleet consists of the following aircraft as of December 2008:[29]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers (First/Main Cabin) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319 | 10 | 7 | 122 (8/114) | |
| Airbus A320 | 18 | 3 | 149 (8/141) |
[edit] Cabin
Virgin America offers dual-class service on all flights it operates. Both cabins feature mood lighting, an unusual aspect of short/medium-haul airlines, said to create a more pleasant and relaxing environment for the passengers and crew.[30] All seats are equipped with Panasonic Avionics' personal in-flight entertainment (IFE) system running a customized touch-screen environment called Red.
First Class seats offer 55 inches (1,400 mm) of pitch and are 28 inches (710 mm) wide. The seats feature power-ports, adjustable headrests, a massage function, and various recline controls. Passengers seated in first class receive complimentary meals, refreshments, and alcoholic beverages and receive dedicated airport check-in, security screening, and aircraft boarding. In first class, Red offers free live satellite television, free on-demand movies, free on-demand television programming and a selection of games.[31]
Main Cabin Select is Virgin America's premium economy product.[32] It is not a distinct class; instead, the service is located at Main Cabin seats in the exit rows and in front of bulkheads. Passengers are offered more conveniences than in normal Main Cabin seats and have 38 inches (970 mm) of seat pitch and dedicated luggage bins. Like in First Class, meals, refreshments and alcoholic beverages are free, as are the premium television channels and movies. Airport check-in, security screening, and aircraft boarding are prioritized over Main Cabin passengers.[32]
Main Cabin seats offer 32 inches (810 mm) of pitch and are 19.7 inches (500 mm) wide with power-ports and adjustable headrests. In Main Cabin, Red offers free live satellite television, pay-per-view on-demand movies and on-demand television shows, a small selection of free games and a larger selection of games for purchase.[31] Red can be used for the purchase of snacks, meals, and alcoholic beverages. Flight attendants receive the orders via a tablet PC on the food cart thereby eliminating the traditional food and beverage service.[33]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "About Us". Retrieved on 2008-08-22.
- ^ "Hub Guide". Retrieved on 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Virgin America provokes fare wars at LAX" (2008-03-03). Retrieved on 28 September 2008.
- ^ "Virgin America Opens Stylish New Doors At LAX Terminal 3" (2008-12-10). Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ "Planespotters". Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
- ^ "On the Record: Fred Reid," The San Francisco Chronicle, March 19, 2006.
- ^ "What is eleVAte?". Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
- ^ See "Actual Control of U.S. Air Carriers" (Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking), 71 FR 26425, May 5, 2006.
- ^ Answer
- ^ a b "SFO Lands New Carrier Virgin USA — 1,500 Jobs; Airline Sets Sights On Low-fare Market; Corporate Center To Be Based In N.Y.," The San Francisco Chronicle, June 5, 2004.
- ^ "Start Of Virgin America Delayed; Branson's Airline Apparently Needs More Investors," The San Francisco Chronicle, April 9, 2005.
- ^ "Taking To The Air: Low-fare Startup Virgin America Says It Has The Funding To fly," The San Francisco Chronicle, December 9, 2005.
- ^ See "Virgin America Inc. - Certificate - Interstate Scheduled Air Transportation", U.S. DOT Docket OST-2005-23307.
- ^ "Virgin America gets the no-go," The San Francisco Chronicle, December 28, 2006.
- ^ "Virgin Group makes concessions to get Virgin America flying," Air Transport World, January 19, 2007.
- ^ Aviation Week and Space Technology, January 22, 2007, p. 16.
- ^ United States Department of Transportation ruling
- ^ "Virgin America fights to keep CEO Reid," Air Transport World, April 12, 2007.
- ^ Aviation Week and Space Technology, September 17, 2007, p. 24
- ^ "Virgin America Appoints C. David Cush as Chief Executive Officer", Yahoo (2007-11-26). Retrieved on 26 November 2007.
- ^ Raine, George (2007-12-18). "Virgin America $35 million in the Red in First Quarter of Operation", San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 8 January 2008.
- ^ "Virgin America Still Looking for Extra Cash". Jaunted (2008-10-03). Retrieved on 2008-10-12.
- ^ a b Simmers, Tim. "Virgin America airline destined for Burlingame." Oakland Tribune. January 13, 2006.
- ^ "Virgin America is teaming with Virgin Galactic." Virgin America. Accessed September 24, 2008.
- ^ Virgin America FAQs Accessed November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Virgin America Route Map". Retrieved on 2008-12-09.
- ^ "Virgin coming to JWA?". Retrieved on 2008-12-12.
- ^ "Virgin America Adds Boston as Newest City", USA Today (2008-12-08). Retrieved on 8 December 2008.
- ^ Virgin America Fleet Information - AeroTransport Data Bank
- ^ Grossman, David. "Virgin America: A New Airline With a Great Product and a Few Bugs", USA Today. Retrieved on 28 December 2007.
- ^ a b "Virgin America-Our Difference" (Flash). Retrieved on 2008-12-08.
- ^ a b "Virgin America Rolls Out Main Cabin Select And Refundable Fares" (2008-10-06). Retrieved on 2008-12-08.
- ^ "Eat Better. Eat Onboard." Virgin America. Retrieved on December 8, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Virgin America Official website
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