Virgin America Wins Best Low-Cost Airline and Best Overall Guest Service in 2011 World Airline Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, June 22, 2011  /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, took a pair of passenger-awarded industry honors for best low-cost service and best staff service excellence among North American competitors in the 2011 World Airline Awards.  The global awards, also known as the Passengers Choice Awards, are based on a 10-month survey of millions of airline customers.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

"We congratulate Virgin America on success in what was a very competitive award category, and the fact that the winner is directly nominated by airline travelers across the world, is testament to the hard work of the front-line teammates at Virgin America who are clearly satisfying their many customers" said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, the UK-based air transport research organization that conducts the global World Airline Survey of travelers, on which the awards are based.

The awards were presented today at the Hall de la Cocarde in Le Musee de l'Air et de l'Espace at Le Bourget during the Paris Air Show, the industry's oldest and largest exhibition.  Anthony Mosse, Virgin America's Vice President of Finance and Treasurer, accepted the award for the Company.

"As a still young and growing airline, we are especially honored to capture the World Airline Awards, based on the feedback of guests who have helped us to achieve the remarkable successes we have realized in less than four years of operation," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush.  "Virgin America's mission from day one has been to elevate each guest experience above the ordinary.  Receiving this kind of recognition is a credit to the work of our teammates who deliver on that mission every day – one guest at a time."  

Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has distinguished itself from competitors with its unique service and in-flight experience.  With one of the youngest aircraft fleets operating in the U.S., the airline is notable for its mood-lit cabins, fleetwide WiFi, power outlets near every seat and the Red™ in-flight entertainment platform. The Red touch-screen platform offers 30 films, live and premium TV, interactive Google Maps, music videos, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, a 3000 MP3 library and even a first-of-its-kind on-demand menu – so guests can order one of the airline's award-winning meals or a cocktail right from their seatback at any time during their flight.   

The World Airline Awards are the latest accolade for the young airline, which has been recognized repeatedly for excellent guest service and innovation.  Earlier this year, Virgin America took top industry honors for "Passenger Service" in Air Transport World's Industry Achievement Awards. 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 and  Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards as well as best-in-class in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Zagat Global Airline survey.

The World Airline Awards, also known as the Passengers Choice Awards, are recognized as the benchmark for excellence in the airline industry. The Skytrax survey is recognized around the world as an independent and transparent passenger survey of airline standards. 

During the survey period, 18.8 million airline customers from more than 100 countries participated in this customer satisfaction survey. The Survey includes over 200 airlines, from the largest international airlines to small domestic carriers, and measures standards across more than 38 different items of airline front-line product and service. The study analyzes customer satisfaction for the Airline Passenger Experience, across the Airport and Onboard environments – check-in to boarding, onboard seat comfort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, in-flight entertainment and staff service.  For a full list of survey results go to: http://www.worldairlineawards.com.

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 the World Airline Awards:  Voted by over 18.8 million airline passengers from 100 different nationalities, the World Airline Awards™ are the most prestigious and respected quality recognition of front-line product and service standards across the world airline industry. With 200 airlines featured, the awards reflect customer satisfaction levels across 38 different items of airline front-line product and service.  The survey was conducted by Skytrax, the UK based aviation research specialists. It covered over 200 airlines, from largest international airlines to small domestic carriers, and measured customer satisfaction levels across more than 38 different items of airline front-line product and service quality.  The World Airline Awards deliver a guaranteed survey transparency, and the global survey coverage distinguishes these awards as the most respected quality recognition for the world airline industry.

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 and 2010 World's Best Awards.  Virgin America is a U.S. owned and operated airline that has created 2,000 jobs and welcomed more than 11 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 January, the airline announced plans to nearly triple its fleet size by 2019 and placed the first order for the new eco-efficient Airbus A320neo.  In April, the airline opened its new home as an anchor tenant at SFO's beautiful and sustainable Terminal 2 (T2).  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. For more: www.virginamerica.com

SOURCE Virgin America