SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America, the California-based airline on a mission to make flying good again, today announced it will add another daily non-stop flight between New York's John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS) airports. Effective Dec. 11, 2008, Virgin America will have two daily flights* on this busy travel route.
"Since launching the route, we've seen growing demand from both leisure and business travelers," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "With attractive fares and features like moodlighting, custom designed leather seats, and the most advanced in-flight entertainment in the U.S., guests are finding that our upscale, high-value service is the only way to travel between two cities that never sleep."
On September 4, Virgin America launched the non-stop JFK-LAS route with a star-studded inaugural flight, featuring the in-flight advance screening of the first episode of Entourage Season 5. The award-winning new carrier has seen strong and growing demand since launching the route.
"At a time when many U.S. carriers are cutting routes and amenities, we're pleased to be adding flights to world-class destinations like Las Vegas, and to have the opportunity to offer more travelers our award-winning service and low fares," Cush added.
Launched in August 2007, Virgin America is the best financed new airline in U.S. history. In just over a year flying, the airline has captured a list of industry best-in-class awards including "Best U.S. Business Class" in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Business Travel Poll and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. The San Francisco-based carrier offers guests a host of inventive features, including power outlets and seatback entertainment with live TV, on-demand movies, food ordering, 3,000 MP3s, videogames, Google Maps, and seat-to-seat chat (all accessed via the touch-screen or remote control at every seat).
Effective Dec. 11, 2008, Virgin America will operate the following schedule on the route:
Flight Leaves Arrives
---------------------------------
251** JFK 10:55am LAS 1:35pm
---------------------------------
259+ JFK 8:00pm LAS 10:55pm
---------------------------------
260** LAS 2:35pm JFK 10:20pm
---------------------------------
268+ LAS 11:45pm JFK 7:29am
---------------------------------
"New York and Las Vegas are two of America's most dynamics destinations, for vacationers as well as business travelers. Virgin America wasted little time in recognizing the strength of this pairing and we're pleased that their growth will soon make it easier for travelers to fly between these two great cities," said Randall H. Walker, Director of the Clark County Department of Aviation, which owns and operates McCarran.
Virgin America's First Class cabin offers international-grade amenities, with priority check-in and boarding and plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch and lumbar massagers. The Main Cabin offers custom-designed leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch. The carrier recently announced a new cabin option, Main Cabin Select, that offers 38-inches of seat pitch, complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to the Red In-flight Entertainment(tm) system's countless entertainment options, and more.
Virgin America currently flies to seven cities with daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, SFO to SEA, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, LAX to SEA, and non-stop JFK to LAS.
EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline that is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.
About Virgin America: Launched in August 2007, Virgin America is a California-based airline that offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. Virgin America's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's ultra-modern and convenient International Terminal. The airline's new Airbus A320-family aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets for electronic gear. In September 2008, Virgin America was rated the "Best U.S. Business Class" in Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Business Travel Poll. In July 2008, the carrier was named "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. In Zagat's 2007 Global Airlines Survey, the airline was ranked #1 among U.S. carriers for quality in First Class. To learn more: www.virginamerica.com
The Virgin America logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2371
*One of the daily flights does not operate on Tuesday/Wednesdays
during off-peak periods.
+These flights effective December 11, 2008.
** These flights do not operate on Tuesday/Wednesdays during off-peak
periods.