BURLINGAME, Calif., Jan. 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America announced today that Samuel K. Skinner, former Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff under President George H.W. Bush, has agreed to join its Board of Directors as Vice Chairman.
"We are thrilled to have Secretary Skinner join our Board as we continue to demonstrate our compliance with the Department's citizenship requirements," said Fred Reid, CEO of Virgin America. "Sam brings a depth of knowledge and experience in transportation, and a well known, sterling reputation for independence, integrity, and U.S. leadership in aviation issues."
Skinner, who serves on several U.S. corporate boards, previously served as President of Commonwealth Edison and Unicom (now Exelon Corp.) as Chairman, CEO, and President of U.S. Freightways Corporation, and as a former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. He was a principal author of several landmark airline citizenship cases, and an early architect of the Department's "cities program" and "open skies" policy.
The company also announced today it had filed with the DOT the supporting documentation behind the company's extensive changes to its structure and agreements, and urged the Department to move forward with review and approval of its application for certification. On January 26, 2007, DOT dismissed as "moot" the joint request of American, Delta, US Airways, Continental, and the Air Line Pilots Association to hold the proceedings in abeyance pending receipt of the additional documentation, with another 21 days to respond.
"Not only have we agreed in less than a month to make fundamental and sweeping changes in response to DOT's tentative decision, but now we have given everyone complete transparency down to the minute detail to show our good faith and seriousness to get this application approved," said Gareth Edmondson-Jones, spokesperson for Virgin America. "We're absolutely committed to satisfying DOT's concerns about our citizenship," he said, "and getting this airline flying at long last to benefit consumers throughout the country."
In its filing, Virgin America also stated the Department "should be wary of further airline delay tactics or 'control' complaints, and should "recognize these efforts for what they are: a concerted effort by legacy carriers now representing over 40 percent of the domestic market share in this country to thwart competition and prevent the entry of a dynamic, innovative, well-financed, well-known brand name into the domestic U.S. aviation market."
According to the Department's Order, interested parties will have 14 days from Virgin America's further evidentiary submissions to respond.
Virgin America recently debuted its onboard cabins on its website. Travelers can take a virtual tour of the cabin at www.LetVAFly.com and even participate in the campaign to launch the airline by signing on online petition of support.
About Virgin America:
Virgin America, a 'new generation' low-fare airline, intends to launch scheduled domestic airline service in 2007 upon government approval. U.S.-owned and operated, Virgin America is based at San Francisco International Airport. To learn more about getting Virgin America off the ground, visit www.letvafly.com.
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