Virgin America Wins Best Low-cost Airline, Best Staff Service And Best Domestic Airline In North America In 2012 World Airline Awards

SAN FRANCISCO, July 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic air travel, took a trio of traveler awarded industry honors for best domestic airline, best low-cost airline and best staff service among North American competitors in the 2012 World Airline Awards.  The global awards are based on a 10-month survey of millions of business and leisure travelers.

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"This has been another fantastic year of success for Virgin America.  To pick up three major awards for the North American region is a clear indication of the esteem that passengers have for the airline," said Edward Plaisted of SKYTRAX, the UK-based air transport research organization that conducts the global World Airline Survey of travelers.

The awards, presented today at the Farnborough International Airshow near London in the United Kingdom, are based on a survey that measures guest satisfaction across more than 38 key performance indicators of airline front-line product and service.  The survey, which captured the views and opinions of more than 18 million business and leisure travelers from 100 countries, covered over 200 airlines, from the largest international airlines to small domestic carriers.  Today's awards are repeat awards for Virgin America, which won both best domestic airline in North America in 2011,  best low-fare carrier in North America in 2010 and 2011, and best staff service in 2009.

"We are incredibly honored to be recognized once again with World Airline Awards, since they reflect the views of experienced travelers across the globe," said Virgin America's President and CEO David Cush.  "While we are proud to be recognized in all three categories, the award for best staff service is particularly gratifying for our teammates who have worked so hard to build a different kind of domestic airline."

Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has distinguished itself with its unique blend of low fares, beautiful design and upscale amenities. With one of the youngest fleets in the U.S., Virgin America offers guests sleek, tech–forward aircraft cabins with custom–designed seating, fleetwide in–flight WiFi, a cabin 'moodlighting' system which transitions across 12 shades based on outside light, power outlets near every seat and the most advanced in–flight entertainment system in the skies. The Red™ in–flight entertainment platform offers every traveler a seatback touch–screen with 25 on–demand films, live and premium TV, interactive Google Maps, music videos, videogames, seat–to–seat chat, a 3000 MP3 library and an on–demand menu – so guests can order a cocktail or meal from their seatback any time during a flight. Virgin America offers one of the largest selections of fresh menu items, with a focus on lighter, more health–focused options in keeping with the airline's California roots.

The World Airline Awards are the latest recognition for the young airline, which has received numerous travelers' choice awards for its excellent guest service and innovation.  Earlier this month, the carrier took top honors for the fifth consecutive year as "Best Domestic Airline" in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards readers' survey.

As one of the few growing U.S. airlines, Virgin America has expanded to 18 destinations, a fleet of 52 new aircraft and 2,600 teammates since its launch nearly five years ago. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.'s Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) (as of August 14, 2012).

For broadcast–quality b–roll video and photos of Virgin America's aircraft and unique cabins, please visit: http://www.virginamerica.com/vx/photos

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California, Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's sleek and sustainable new Terminal 2. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in–flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat. Virgin America was the first airline to offer Gogo™ InFlight Internet on every flight and hosts the largest in–flight entertainment library in the U.S. skies, via the touch–screen Red™ platform. For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com

SOURCE Virgin America