Launched on August 8 2007, Virgin America has as its objective the provision of quality service at budget price hence its low cost fares. It has its hub at the San Francisco International Airport. The airline obviously has affiliations with the popular Virgin brand but then the ownership structure, in keeping with United State laws is such that Virgin Group could only retain 25% while VAI Partners LLC owns 75% of the capital stock. It also has no obligations to the other franchisees of the Virgin airline brand such as Virgin Blue, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic or Virgin Nigeria.
Virgin America today, services ten destinations in the United States and these include California (with its hub and focus city), Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Virginia and Washington. It is able to service these destinations with its fleet of 24 aircraft which include Airbus A319-100 and Airbus A320-200. It also has an order for one more Airbus A320-300 aircraft. In a collaborative move with members of the public, the airline’s first aircraft was named after the band Jefferson Airplane. (This should come as no surprise seeing as how the Virgin enterprise was founded by Virgin Records owner Sir Richard Branson). The airplane was then christened by the band’s lead singer, Grace Slick.
Virgin America has also won a number of awards including the Best Domestic Airline for two straight years in Travel + Leisure Annual World’s Best Awards.
