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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.