Virgin America ordina 9 A320
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Virgin America to add nine aircraft, serve Toronto, Orlando
Friday March 19, 2010
Virgin America yesterday announced it will add nine A320s (six arriving this year and three scheduled in the 2011 first quarter), bringing its fleet to 37 and enabling it to launch new daily flights to Orlando International from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Aug. 19.
VX will cease SFO-Orange County service on May 26 as part of a growing emphasis on longer flights and said it plans to open "at least" three additional destinations later this year. Contingent on regulatory approval, it plans to begin daily service from LAX and SFO to Toronto Pearson, its first international destination, as early as June.
"Despite our relatively strong performance at [Orange County], given our new fleet plan and network prospects, we've made the decision to focus on the immediate long-haul opportunities that the Orlando and Toronto markets provide," Virgin America President and CEO David Cush said. By this time next year it plans to grow its fleet by approximately one-third. "With strong financial performance, a new ownership structure and growth in fleet size, we're pleased to be able to expand," Cush added. It currently operates 28 A320s. The nine new aircraft will leased, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last year the US Dept. of Transportation launched a review of VX's ownership after US interests dipped below the required 75% voting stake (ATWOnline, Aug. 24, 2009). It was cleared as a "US citizen. . .under the actual control of US citizens" in January after implementing changes regarding investment and board composition and now is "poised for major growth in 2010," it said (ATWOnline, Jan. 11).
Launched in 2007, VX reported record load factors, improved unit costs, and its first quarterly operating profit ($157.9 million) in the 2009 third quarter, a 38.3% increase year-over-year (ATWOnline, Dec. 14, 2009).
by Christine Boynton
Friday March 19, 2010
Virgin America yesterday announced it will add nine A320s (six arriving this year and three scheduled in the 2011 first quarter), bringing its fleet to 37 and enabling it to launch new daily flights to Orlando International from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Aug. 19.
VX will cease SFO-Orange County service on May 26 as part of a growing emphasis on longer flights and said it plans to open "at least" three additional destinations later this year. Contingent on regulatory approval, it plans to begin daily service from LAX and SFO to Toronto Pearson, its first international destination, as early as June.
"Despite our relatively strong performance at [Orange County], given our new fleet plan and network prospects, we've made the decision to focus on the immediate long-haul opportunities that the Orlando and Toronto markets provide," Virgin America President and CEO David Cush said. By this time next year it plans to grow its fleet by approximately one-third. "With strong financial performance, a new ownership structure and growth in fleet size, we're pleased to be able to expand," Cush added. It currently operates 28 A320s. The nine new aircraft will leased, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Last year the US Dept. of Transportation launched a review of VX's ownership after US interests dipped below the required 75% voting stake (ATWOnline, Aug. 24, 2009). It was cleared as a "US citizen. . .under the actual control of US citizens" in January after implementing changes regarding investment and board composition and now is "poised for major growth in 2010," it said (ATWOnline, Jan. 11).
Launched in 2007, VX reported record load factors, improved unit costs, and its first quarterly operating profit ($157.9 million) in the 2009 third quarter, a 38.3% increase year-over-year (ATWOnline, Dec. 14, 2009).
by Christine Boynton
Ulteriori dettagli su espansione VX
DATE:18/03/10
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
Virgin America seeks Toronto rights, preps for Orlando launch
By Megan Kuhn
Virgin America seeks to inaugurate its first international service - Toronto - as it reworks its route network this summer.
Today the carrier is submitting to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) its request for daily Canadian service from San Francisco and Los Angeles starting as early as June.
The announcement does not come as a surprise as airline chief David Cush told ATI in August 2009 that the carrier was studying destinations best-suited to its core Los Angeles and San Francisco markets including Toronto, Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.
In addition, Virgin America will enter its second Florida destination with daily service to Orlando from San Francisco and Los Angeles from 19 August. Orlando operations come after Virgin America launched Fort Lauderdale flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles in November 2009.
Virgin America is freeing aircraft to "immediately launch service into the more lucrative Orlando and Toronto long-haul markets", the carrier says in statement, by exiting John Wayne airport in suburban Los Angeles on 26 May.
The Orange County retreat comes just over a year after Virgin America started five daily flights to John Wayne airport from San Francisco ahead of rival Southwest Airline's launch of the same city pair with five daily frequencies.
Besides abandoning that competitive city pair, more network changes are likely as the carrier says it aims to announce at least three more new destinations in 2010.
While the carrier did not identify the forthcoming routes, Cush told ATI in December 2009 that Virgin America was targeting its long-awaited launch from Chicago O'Hare International airport for May or June of this year. The airline had shelved its plans to launch O'Hare links in 2008 due to its inability to obtain gates at the airport.
Regarding its forthcoming operations, Virgin America will face competition from United Airlines and Air Canada between San Francisco and Toronto while American Airlines and Air Canada serve Los Angeles-Toronto, schedules in Innovata show.
American, United and Delta Air Lines also fly from Los Angeles to Orlando while United connects San Francisco and Orlando, according to Innovata.
Virgin America plans to take delivery of six Airbus narrowbodies this year, followed by three aircraft during the first quarter of 2011.
DATE:18/03/10
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
Virgin America seeks Toronto rights, preps for Orlando launch
By Megan Kuhn
Virgin America seeks to inaugurate its first international service - Toronto - as it reworks its route network this summer.
Today the carrier is submitting to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) its request for daily Canadian service from San Francisco and Los Angeles starting as early as June.
The announcement does not come as a surprise as airline chief David Cush told ATI in August 2009 that the carrier was studying destinations best-suited to its core Los Angeles and San Francisco markets including Toronto, Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.
In addition, Virgin America will enter its second Florida destination with daily service to Orlando from San Francisco and Los Angeles from 19 August. Orlando operations come after Virgin America launched Fort Lauderdale flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles in November 2009.
Virgin America is freeing aircraft to "immediately launch service into the more lucrative Orlando and Toronto long-haul markets", the carrier says in statement, by exiting John Wayne airport in suburban Los Angeles on 26 May.
The Orange County retreat comes just over a year after Virgin America started five daily flights to John Wayne airport from San Francisco ahead of rival Southwest Airline's launch of the same city pair with five daily frequencies.
Besides abandoning that competitive city pair, more network changes are likely as the carrier says it aims to announce at least three more new destinations in 2010.
While the carrier did not identify the forthcoming routes, Cush told ATI in December 2009 that Virgin America was targeting its long-awaited launch from Chicago O'Hare International airport for May or June of this year. The airline had shelved its plans to launch O'Hare links in 2008 due to its inability to obtain gates at the airport.
Regarding its forthcoming operations, Virgin America will face competition from United Airlines and Air Canada between San Francisco and Toronto while American Airlines and Air Canada serve Los Angeles-Toronto, schedules in Innovata show.
American, United and Delta Air Lines also fly from Los Angeles to Orlando while United connects San Francisco and Orlando, according to Innovata.
Virgin America plans to take delivery of six Airbus narrowbodies this year, followed by three aircraft during the first quarter of 2011.
Having recently announced international routes to Toronto from its bases in Los Angeles and San Francisco, Virgin America has revealed that the carrier is looking at potential new routes to Mexico.
The location is not yet known, however Virgin America would face considerable competition on Mexico City from its west coast bases with Aeromexico, Mexicana and United all operating from LAX and SFO.
fonte : sito virgin america
The location is not yet known, however Virgin America would face considerable competition on Mexico City from its west coast bases with Aeromexico, Mexicana and United all operating from LAX and SFO.
fonte : sito virgin america
