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In early 2004, the Virgin Group announced plans to create a United States-based, low-cost airline initially named "Virgin USA.” Although the public showed strong support for the creation of a new economy airline, the company experienced many complications during the approval process, including rivalries between New York and California cities, labor union disputes, resistance from all major U.S. airlines, and concerns that a Virgin Group airline would primarily be controlled outside of the U.S. After initially being denied approval by the Department of Transportation, a revised application was submitted in January 2007 stipulating that voting shares would be held by an approved trust and only two Virgin Group directors would serve on the airline’s eight-person board. Amid concerns that CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Fred Reid might also be unduly influenced by the Virgin Group, he was replaced by C. David Cush, who remained CEO until 2016. With SFO selected as its base, and Burlingame chosen as the site of its corporate headquarters, the airline, now called Virgin America, was finally cleared to fly in May 2007. In July of that year, Virgin America began setting fares and selling tickets, and in August, flights were inaugurated between New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. See "VX Forever: The Legacy of Virgin America" on display in the Aviation Museum and Library. The Aviation Museum and Library is located, pre-security, in the International Terminal and is open daily from 10am to 4:30pm. https://bit.ly/vx-forever 📸: Virgin America Red Carpet launch campaign 2007 photograph Collection of SFO Museum Gift of Alaska Airlines 2018.083.202 R2023.1401.062 https://bit.ly/3LDmbt8 This image was posted on July 23, 2024.

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Virgin America was founded in 2004 by the Virgin Group to offer a more pleasurable domestic airline flying experience to the traveling public. This image was posted on January 24, 2024. #vxforever #avgeek #virginamerica
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Identified by the IATA (International Air Transport Association) code VX, Virgin America commenced operations in 2007 with branding licensed from Sir Richard Branson’s UK-based Virgin Group. This image was posted on February 12, 2024. #vxforever
Please join us for a free public event to celebrate the legacy of Virgin America and the new SFO Museum exhibition "VX Forever". This image was posted on April 05, 2024. #vxforever
During its first year of operations, Virgin America flew to only eight cities. This image was posted on August 16, 2024. #vxforever #avgeek
Throughout the eleven years of its operation, Virgin America supported the LGBTQ community and remained committed to LGBTQ rights and equality. This image was posted on June 14, 2024. #vxforever
In 2018, after eleven years of service, the airline ceased operations following its acquisition by Alaska Airlines. This image was posted on March 27, 2024. #vxforever