NOSTALGIA: VIRGIN AMERICA - USA - CEASED OPERATIONS ON 24-APR-2018 - A320 Fleets

Part of Alaska Air Group Inc.
IATA: VX
ICAO: VRD
Main hub: San Francisco International Airport
Country/Territory: United States of America

Established in 2007, Virgin America was an American low-cost carrier based at San Francisco International Airport. With a fleet of Airbus narrowbody aircraft and a popular low-cost product, Virgin America operated a network of services along the US West Coast, as well as trans-national services services between major cities on the East and West Coasts of the US and international services to Mexico.

In Apr-2016, Alaska Air Group Inc, parent company of Alaska Airlines, and Virgin America Inc announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement, under which Alaska Air Group will acquire Virgin America for an aggregate transaction value is approximately USD4.0 billion. Alaska Airlines Group closed the acquisition on 14-Dec-2016, becoming the fifth largest commercial service operator in the US with a combined fleet of 60 A320s and 147 Boeing 737s. Virgin commenced the phase out of its Elevate FFP, with members adopting the Mileage Plan. On 11-Jan-2018, Alaska Airlines received a single operating certificate from the US FAA, marking a significant milestone in the integration of both carriers. Virgin America operated its final commercial service under the Virgin brand on 25-Apr-2018.

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Duncan Stewart - LAX