Virgin America Approved

Virgin America has been approved to fly in the United States. The Department of Transportation granted final approval for the airline on Friday to begin operations. Virgin America plans to be a low-cost carrier without sacrificing service as many most low-cost carriers do. The newbie airline will be based in the San Francisco area and plans for a mid-summer launch. Wow, that’s quick. The first flights will be between San Francisco and JFK in New York.

According to the press release, In its final order, the DOT found that the company fully complied with all requirements regarding fitness, U.S. citizenship requirements and control. The DOT also acknowledged that this final approval had been contingent upon the company’s acceptance of several additional conditions that were made public in March when the DOT tentatively approved Virgin America’s application. One of these additional conditions included a requirement for Mr. Reid to step down following launch. That condition will remain although he now will be permitted to stay on as CEO for six months following airline certification.

Virgin plans to serve Los Angeles (LAX), Washington/Dulles, San Diego and Las Vegas within its first year of operations. The hope is to serve as many as 10 cities within a year of operation and up to 30 cities within five years of service. Additional cities under Virgin America’s consideration include: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Portland, Ore., Raleigh-Durham, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Jose, Calif., Sarasota, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and West Palm Beach.Virgin America has been approved to fly in the United States. The Department of Transportation granted final approval for the airline on Friday to begin operations. Virgin America plans to be a low-cost carrier without sacrificing service as many most low-cost carriers do. The newbie airline will be based in the San Francisco area and plans for a mid-summer launch. Wow, that’s quick. The first flights will be between San Francisco and JFK in New York.

According to the press release, In its final order, the DOT found that the company fully complied with all requirements regarding fitness, U.S. citizenship requirements and control. The DOT also acknowledged that this final approval had been contingent upon the company’s acceptance of several additional conditions that were made public in March when the DOT tentatively approved Virgin America’s application. One of these additional conditions included a requirement for Mr. Reid to step down following launch. That condition will remain although he now will be permitted to stay on as CEO for six months following airline certification.

Virgin plans to serve Los Angeles (LAX), Washington/Dulles, San Diego and Las Vegas within its first year of operations. The hope is to serve as many as 10 cities within a year of operation and up to 30 cities within five years of service. Additional cities under Virgin America’s consideration include: Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, Newark, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Portland, Ore., Raleigh-Durham, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Jose, Calif., Sarasota, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

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