May 18, 2007

Virgin America gets formal OK for JFK-SF route

Virgin America today received final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin operations as a new low-fare airline, the company said.

Ticket sales could begin within the month for mid-summer flights between San Francisco and New York's JFK airport. Before that happens, the company must seek a waiver for permission to begin selling tickets.

Virgin America also plans to serve Los Angeles (at LAX), Washington/Dulles, San Diego and Las Vegas within its first year of operations. Regulators initially rejected the airline's bid to fly, based on rules that restrict control of domestic airlines to U.S. citizens, according to Reuters. Virgin America made a number of concessions to comply, including a promise to reduce its exposure to overseas interests, including Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which runs British-based Virgin Atlantic Airlines.

Earlier: Coming soon to JFK: VirginAmerica and Zoom Airways

May 18, 2007 07:23 PM in Arrivology

®Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved