US start-up Virgin America today is scheduled to inaugurate services from New York Kennedy and Los Angeles to its home base of San Francisco International.
The launch follows a lengthy battle to convince regulators that Virgin America met rules on US citizenship requirements and control. Initially, Virgin America offers two daily flights between San Francisco and New York, and five daily flights between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Further non-stop services connecting San Francisco with Las Vegas and Washington Dulles and Los Angeles with Dulles will follow later this year.
Virgin America had for years been seeking to launch US domestic services, but faced strong opposition from those claiming its ownership structure did not meet US laws and concerns that Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group had undue influence. Virgin America agreed to revise its funding and management structures.
Source: Flight International
