Virgin America Names Donald Carty Chairman

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- Virgin Group Ltd. (VGN.YY) named Donald J. Carty chairman of the company's airline start-up, Virgin America Inc.

In a press release Monday, Virgin America said Carty, 59 years old, served as AMR Corp.'s (AMR) chairman and chief executive from 1998 to April 2003.

Carty's appointment to Virgin America was made by VAI Partners LLC, an investment group funded by U.S. investment firms Black Canyon Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners.

AMR agreed to become an investor in VAI Partners, which owns 75% of Virgin America's equity. Virgin America plans to launch flights in the U.S. this year.

Company Web site: http://www.virginamerica.com