Did you know...
The Officers of Virgin America include former executives of American Airlines, Delta Airlines, US Airways, Eastern Airlines, Pan Am, TWA, AirTran Airways, Atlas Air, and Chicago Express? And that we even have a former Wall Street investment banker?
Whether or not you agree with current foreign-ownership restrictions in the airline industry, Virgin America’s application at DOT does NOT need Congress to change any existing laws?
Virgin America will generate a sizeable number of jobs? 5,000 direct jobs in the first 5 years of operation, and 50,000 indirect jobs in the same timeframe.
Virgin America is a good neighbor? We already do business with over 110 companies that also do business in the State of California.
VA will be good for communities? A recent study showed that, with a modest 20 daily operations at SFO, VA would generate $775 million in annual wages, salaries, and business revenue. Almost $50 million in state and local taxes would also be generated annually.
Virgin America plans to be a nationwide carrier? We don’t intend to be just a regional player. With just a few dozen aircraft, we hope to operate up to 40 departures per day from SFO, and dozens more from many other cities nationwide.
Virgin America will also be good for consumers? Another study showed that consumers would save $786 million annually in fare savings if Virgin America were allowed to fly, or the equivalent of $88 per roundtrip. That same study showed that Bay Area residents would save $187 million annually, or $110 per roundtrip. This is because VA will offer low fares in line with existing low fare carrier pricing.
Virgin America will be good for airports? 3 million annual new passengers nationwide will be generated per year. Of these, 803,000 will be Bay Area residents (or 2,200 per day) parking at SFO, riding BART, and buying goods at airport concessions. Virgin America’s presence will also generate an incremental 463,000 new visitors annually to the Bay Area.
Virgin America will offer the best VALUE in the U.S. domestic space? With the fantastic onboard product, combined with low fares typical of existing low-fare carriers today (Southwest and JetBlue for comparison), we plan to offer the best value in the domestic U.S.
In 2006, existing carriers in the U.S. raised ticket prices by 9%, 3 times faster than the rate of inflation, and the highest fare increase in 25 YEARS?
In 2006, 2.5% of domestic U.S. airline capacity disappeared? That may not sound like a lot, but that is equivalent to Airtran Airways disappearing entirely (or 700 departures per day).
Virgin America is ready to go? We have 165 employees. Nine aircraft are already here. We already have the approval of the FAA (for safety). And we have the backing of $177 million in funding, making us the best-financed startup airline in history.