VIRGIN AMERICA LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE TO DALLAS–FORT WORTH
Award–Winning Airline Goes Out–for–Sale in the Big D and Celebrates with a “Texas Sized” Fare Sale
San Francisco – August 10, 2010 – Virgin America, the California–based airline that is reinventing travel, today announces it will bring its low–fare, upscale service to Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with daily flights from the West Coast starting in December 2010. The new service will launch with daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to DFW as of December 1, 2010, and daily flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to DFW as of December 6, 2010. Dallas–Fort Worth will be the twelfth destination in the airline’s expanding network. To kick off a big new route in a big way, the airline today also launches a “Texas Sized” three–day fare sale for travel across Virgin America’s network.
Virgin America Does Dallas
“Dallas–Fort Worth is one of the largest metropolitan areas in North America and a major center of business with strong ties to California – most notably in the financial services, energy and the Silicon Prairie–Silicon Valley high–tech sectors,” said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. “With unrivalled value and a flight experience unlike anything else in the North American skies, we think our service will be a breath of fresh air for Dallas–Fort Worth travelers. Before today, travelers along these routes had very little choice and we think a little healthy competition is always a good thing – especially for consumers.”
Virgin America is a new U.S. airline that offers travelers a host of inventive amenities, including beautifully designed mood–lit cabins, fleetwide WiFi, power outlets near every seat and the most advanced in–flight entertainment platform in the skies. The Red? entertainment system offers films, live TV, videogames and even an on–demand menu — all via a nine inch touch–screen at every seatback. Since its 2007 launch, Virgin America has swept the major reader–based travel awards, including “Best Domestic Airline” in both Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 and 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards.
“Virgin America at DFW Airport clearly represents an outstanding new travel option for our city and our region,” said Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert. “We welcome Virgin America and its innovative approach to airline service and look forward to a long and productive partnership.”
“Our region’s incredible growth over the past decade makes Fort Worth and all of North Texas a very strong target for expansion for Virgin America,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief. “Our diverse communities, exciting attractions and strong business environment make an outstanding and rich marketplace for Virgin America to do business. We are proud to welcome Virgin America as a new member of our North Texas family.”
“Texas Sized” fare sale tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm PDT on August 12, 2010. DFW fares start at $129*in Main Cabin. Main Cabin fares start as low as $44** on short–hauls like Los Angeles (LAX)–San Francisco (SFO) and SFO–Las Vegas (LAS). Long haul fares start from $124** for LAX–Washington Dulles (IAD) and SFO–Fort Lauderdale (FLL). For most of the network, travel on fare sale tickets must occur between August 17, 2010–November 17, 2010.*** Tickets are on sale today on the airline’s Web site (www.virginamerica.com) and at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (1.877.359.8474).****
“Virgin America’s decision to launch service from DFW Airport to two major markets is a testament to the strength and vitality of the North Texas region,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport. “Our passengers will see a big benefit from the increased competition and the new Virgin America service.”
The airline’s DFW schedule includes:
* LAX–DFW: two nonstop daily flights
* SFO–DFW: two nonstop daily flights
* DFW–LAX: two nonstop daily flights
* DFW–SFO: two nonstop daily flights
Connecting flights will also be available to Dallas–Fort Worth from Las Vegas (LAS), San Diego (SAN) and Seattle (SEA).
Known for its design–driven and high–tech flight experience, Virgin America has been winning over consumers since its launch. In May 2009, the airline became the first to offer WiFi on every flight. The airline’s Red entertainment platform offers touch–screen and remote control interactivity with a wealth of options, including:
* 700 hours of entertainment content: The Red platform offers 18 channels of live satellite TV, +30 on–demand films, premium TV like HBO, an on–demand music video library and more;
* Games: A variety of videogames are available via the Red platform, including cult favorites like DOOM, navigated by a Qwerty keyboard handset at every seat;
* Seat–to–seat chat: Guests can chat with other flyers via text message and can even block chat requests;
* Maps: Interactive Google Maps with terrain–view, that zoom at eight levels and track the aircraft in–flight;
* On–demand menu: A first–of–its–kind on–demand seatback menu that allows guests to order what they want, when they want it during a flight. The menu was named best in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure;
* Shopping: First ever digital in–flight shopping platform allows flyers to choose from hundreds of products, swipe a credit card via the credit card reader at every seat – and shop at 35,000 feet;
* Music: Guests can access a 3000 track MP3 library and even create their own playlists in–flight.
In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom–designed leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier's Main Cabin Select option offers 38–inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all–access pass to the Red system’s countless media options, dedicated overhead bins and priority check–in/boarding.
Virgin America is one of the fastest growing new airlines in U.S. history, with significant growth and five city expansions slated for 2010 alone. In July, the airline announced plans to order 60 new aircraft. The airline’s fleet is projected to grow from its current 28 aircraft to 90 aircraft by 2016. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, Orlando (starting October 6, 2010) and Dallas–Fort Worth (starting in December 2010).