Category Archives: Virgin America

Virgin America launches its first route to Mexico

Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (December 16) launched its new service from SFO to Los Cabos, its first route to Mexico.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional details.

Virgin America and Virgin Blue begin their flight attendant swap

Virgin America (San Francisco) and Virgin Blue Airlines (Brisbane) have started their unique in-flight teammates exchange program.

Copyright Photo: John Adlard. Please click on the photo for the full details.

Virgin America implements its new interline agreement with Emirates

Virgin America (San Francisco) has announced it has signed an interline agreement with Emirates Airline (Dubai) to offer U.S. travelers travel on the networks of each carrier.

Emirates currently flies twice daily from Los Angeles, Houston and New York City, and daily from San Francisco nonstop to Dubai.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on photo for additional information.

Virgin America lands in Dallas/Fort Worth

Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (December 1) inaugurated new service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with a new route from Los Angeles. San Francisco-DFW will follow on December 6.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Please click on the photo for additional details.

Virgin America to offer free inflight Internet during the holidays

Virgin America (San Francisco), the first airline in the U.S. to offer fleetwide WiFi in the skies, today announces it is teaming up with Google’s Chrome browser team to offer free Gogoยฎ Inflight Internet for all its guests during the holiday season. The two California companies known for innovation, entrepreneurialism and for connecting people in new ways have come together for the second consecutive year to give Virgin America flyers the gift of in-flight connection during the holiday travel season. From November 20, 2010-January 2, 2011, guests on all Virgin America flights will be able to check email, stay in touch with family and friends via social media, or just go wherever the web takes them โ€“ all for free.

Virgin America is the first airline in the U.S. to offer both standard power outlets near every seat and fleet-wide WiFi. Launched on its first aircraft in November 2008 and rolled out to its entire fleet by May 2009, the airline sees up to one-third of guests on some long-haul flights logging on to Gogo. Although guests traveling on any of Virgin America’s flights from November 20, 2010-January 2, 2011, will enjoy free web access via their laptops, PDAs, or iPads, Gogo is normally available for $12.95 for flights of over three hours; $9.95 for flights between 1.5 and three hours; $4.95 for short haul flights of less than 1.5 hours; and handheld/PDA pricing of $7.95 for flights over 1.5 hours and $4.95 for short flights. Monthly passes on Virgin America are also available for $29.95 for laptops and $19.95 for handhelds.

Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin. Please click on the photo for additional information.

Virgin America touches down in Orlando

Virgin America (San Francisco) today (October 13) celebrated its new nonstop service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) from both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The airport welcome party was hosted by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Florida Mayor Richard T. Crotty, Virgin America CEO David Cush and Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography.

Virgin America to lease four Airbus A320s from Sahaab Aircraft Leasing

Virgin America (San Francisco) will lease four Airbus A320-200s from Sahaab Aircraft Leasing, a subsidiary of the Jazeera Airways Group.

Read the full report from Reuters:

CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) taxies to the gate at Seattle/Tacoma.

Virgin America to fly to Cancun and Cabo

Virgin America (San Francisco) has announced it will serve San Jose del Cabo International Airport (SJD) and Cancun International Airport (CUN) with nonstop flights from California starting this winter. Nonstop flights launch from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to SJD as of December 16, 2010, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to CUN as of January 19, 2011, and from SFO-CUN as of January 20, 2011.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Airbus A320-214 N625VA (msn 2800) awaits takeoff clearance at Seattle/Tacoma.

Virgin America to add Dallas/Fort Worth in December

Virgin America (San Francisco) announced it will add Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with daily flights from the West Coast starting in December 2010. The new service will launch with daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to DFW as of December 1, 2010, and daily flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to DFW as of December 6, 2010. Dallas-Fort Worth will be the twelfth destination in the airline’s expanding network.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography. Airbus A319-112 N527VA (msn 3417) named “Tubular Belle” visits Toronto (Pearson), its first destination in Canada.

Virgin America signs MOU for 40 new Airbus A320 aircraft

Virgin America (San Francisco) announced it plans to order 40 new Airbus A320 aircraft, with options for 20 additional aircraft. The new aircraft would be delivered from 2013 through 2016 โ€“ with 10 firm orders per year on average, and options for 20 additional aircraft in 2017-2018. With today’s order of 40 new aircraft and growth from other sources, Virgin America’s fleet is projected to grow from its current 28 aircraft to 90 aircraft by 2016 โ€“ a compounded annual growth rate of 21.5 percent.

Copyright Photo: Mark Durbin. This now rare view shows the special Entourage markings on Airbus A320-214 N628VA (msn 2993) at San Francisco.