Virgin America Sets Its Sights on Puerto Vallarta Route

SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Virgin America, California's hometown airline, announces its intent to launch flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) in Mexico.  Virgin America files today with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the authority to fly to PVR and subject to approval from both the U.S. DOT and the Mexican government, the airline plans to begin flying to Puerto Vallarta this winter.  The announcement of the Company's third U.S. – Mexico route comes as the low-fare airline has expanded service to Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun and Chicago in the past eight months alone.

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"We've seen a strong demand for travel to our Mexican destinations and we're looking forward to giving our flyers another world-class leisure option," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "We're proud to be growing and offering travelers a very unique flight experience at a time when most airlines are shrinking their schedules and reducing the amenities provided to flyers."

With top-notch guest service, beautiful design and a host of high-tech amenities, Virgin America has captured a list of industry best-in-class awards in only four years of operation.  The airline offers unrivalled value with low fares and innovative features like touch-screen personal seatback entertainment, power outlets at every seat, fleetwide WiFi, mood-lit cabins and custom-designed leather seating with a deeper and more comfortable pitch.  The Red™ in-flight entertainment platform offers 30 films, live and premium TV, interactive Google Maps, music videos, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, a 3000 MP3 library, a first-of-its-kind digital Shop section and an on-demand menu — so guests can order a cocktail or meal from their seatback any time during a flight.

Virgin America has captured a string of industry best-in-class awards, including "Best Domestic Airline" in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards,  best-in-class in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Zagat Global Airline survey and recently won "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards for the fourth consecutive year. Earlier this year, the airline also took top honors for "Passenger Service" in Air Transport World's Industry Achievement Awards and "Best Low-Cost Service" and "Best Staff Service" among North American competitors in the 2011 World Airline Awards.  

Since its launch in August 2007, Virgin America has created 2000 new jobs and grown to serve multiple destinations across North America. As one of the few growing U.S. airlines, Virgin America continues to expand its fleet, growing from its current 39 aircraft to a projected fleet of 52 aircraft by mid-2012.  The airline will add 500 new jobs on annual basis and expand to two-to-three new destinations per year over the next several years.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun and Chicago.

About Virgin America:  Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel.  In just over three years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008, 2009 and 2010 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 World's Best Awards.  Virgin America is a U.S. owned and operated airline that has created 2,000 jobs and welcomed more than 12 million guests since its August 2007 launch.  The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat.   Virgin America offers Gogo™ WiFi on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the North American skies via the touch-screen Red™ platform.  In 2011, the airline announced plans to nearly triple its fleet size by 2019 and placed the first orders for the new eco-efficient Airbus A320neo and CFM LEAP engine.  In April, the airline opened its new home as an anchor tenant at SFO's sleek and sustainable new Terminal 2 (T2).  For more: www.virginamerica.com

SOURCE Virgin America