SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, is celebrating the move to its beautifully designed new location at Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) Terminal 3, with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony and champagne toast for guests and airport leadership. Virgin America partnered with the airport and Los Angeles-based architects Rivers & Christian (with Lundberg Design of San Francisco) to create a chic and modern new ticket counter and boarding experience that reflects the carrier's innovative and environmentally-sensitive design sensibilities, with a nod to the airport's original early-1960s architecture.
"As a California-based carrier known for bringing style back to domestic flying, it was a pleasure to partner with a forward-looking airport and design team to reinvent the typical domestic airport experience -- especially as we continue to grow our footprint at LAX," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "Our new face at LAX is a nod to the airport's glamorous past, with all of the upscale, tech-savvy amenities that today's travelers expect."
The move allows Virgin America to strengthen and expand its long-term footprint at LAX, and brings the Virgin-Branded airlines at LAX in closer proximity. V-Australia's much anticipated new service will arrive at Terminal 3 in the spring of 2009. The dramatic redesign of the Virgin America and V-Australia counters is part of ongoing expansion and renovation plans at LAX.
"We're committed to making forward-looking investments that will modernize and expand one of the world's busiest airports," said Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports Gina Marie Lindsey. "By partnering with Virgin America to create a seamless, next generation gateway for travelers to and from LAX, we're connecting Virgin's guests to the airport's stylish past and its bright and growing future."
Virgin America has welcomed more than 1.2 million travelers through LAX since its August 2007 launch, and continues to expand its footprint in Los Angeles, most recently with the announcement of service from LAX to Boston Logan International Airport beginning on Feb. 12, 2009.
Virgin America offers innovative amenities that appeal to today's tech-savvy business and leisure travelers, including power outlets and the touch-screen Red entertainment platform at every seat. Red allows guests to control their own experience, with a food menu, 25 on-demand films, seat-to-seat chat, and a play-list of thousands of MP3s, videogames, and live television. Already launched on two aircraft, by the second quarter of 2009 the carrier will be the first U.S. airline to offer inflight internet service fleetwide.
Virgin America currently flies to seven cities -- San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas and San Diego. Virgin America offers 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, JFK to LAS and as of Feb. 12, 2009 -- BOS to LAX and BOS to SFO .
EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline and 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 October 2008, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards. In July 2008, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. To learn more: www.virginamerica.com
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