Virgin America Launches New Service to Orange County

Award-Winning Airline Expands Service on the West Coast

Inaugural Flight Welcomed at SNA with Beach-Meets-Runway Red Carpet Event

SAN FRANCISCO, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic air travel, today launches its high-tech, low-fare service to Orange County. The airline starts service with five conveniently-timed daily roundtrips between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Santa Ana, California. As the first low cost carrier to serve the route, Virgin America offers travelers unrivaled value with fares starting at $49*in Main Cabin and features like touch-screen seatback entertainment and WiFi on every flight. SNA is the ninth destination in the carrier’s growing network.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO)

“As the only California-based airline, Orange County is an important travel market for us and we couldn’t be more pleased to partner with John Wayne Airport to bring our award-winning service to the region,” said Virgin America CEO and President David Cush. “We’re injecting some healthy competition into the market with low fares, industry-leading service and upscale amenities. We think our unique service will be a breath of fresh air for Orange County’s selective travelers.”

Since its launch in 2007, Virgin America has captured a list of travel industry best-in-class awards including “Best Domestic Airline” in both Conde Nast Traveler’s 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards. The carrier’s low fare flights appeal to today’s tech-savvy travelers, with power outlets and interactive Red™ entertainment platforms at every seat. The airline now offers in-flight WiFi on more than two-thirds of its fleet, including all of its new SFO-SNA flights. By June 2009, Virgin America will be the first and only domestic carrier to offer Gogo In-flight Internet fleet-wide.

“We’re pleased to welcome Virgin America to Orange County,” said SNA Airport Director Alan Murphy. “Competition brings more options for travelers, and we think Virgin America’s low fares and fun, innovative in-flight amenities will be a popular choice for our visitors and residents.”

The SFO-SNA inaugural flight will be celebrated with a surf band playing at the SFO departure gate, live interviews via WiFi stream at 35,000 feet, and a beach-meets-runway red carpet welcome at SNA. Upon touchdown at SNA, the first commercial guests, along with Cush and Virgin Group Founder and President Sir Richard Branson, will be greeted by local leaders and an unofficial Orange County welcoming committee, including the cast of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County” and Red Bull athletes. Arriving guests will be feted at an exclusive tarmac soiree, with a menu prepared by Joie de Vivre’s Shorebreak Hotel chef Vincent Muraco and cocktails from KARMA California Brut, Red Bull, SkinnyGirl and VeeV, the world’s first Açai Spirit. Bare Escentuals makeovers and Sunset Tan spray tans will be offered to flight guests on arrival.

As part of the launch of its new service, Virgin America is also giving a dozen fliers the “OC treatment for free,” with a seat on the first flight, a stay at Pacific Edge Hotel on Laguna Beach, and a South Coast Plaza shopping spree. The value of the winners’ seats will be donated to Virgin Unite’s partner, StandUp for Kids - a nonprofit outreach group making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth in Orange County.

Virgin America flies to San Francisco, LA, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, and as of today - Orange County. The airline offers connecting flights from SNA to SEA, JFK, IAD and BOS.

About Virgin America: Launched in Aug. 2007, Virgin America is a San Francisco-based airline that offers attractive fares and a host of innovative features, including in-flight WiFi, power outlets and the Red™ touch-screen in-flight entertainment system which offers 25 on-demand films, seat-to-seat chat, videogames, live TV and more. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seats with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the carrier’s First Class offers international-grade amenities, such as seats with lumbar massagers. Main Cabin Select service offers 38-inches of seat pitch, complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to Red™ and priority check-in and boarding. In 2008, the airline was named “Best Domestic Airline in Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards and “Best Domestic Airline” in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. The airline employs 1400 and is one of the fastest growing start-up airlines of all time, with an all new 28-aircraft Airbus A320-family fleet and daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO and SFO to SNA. For more, visit: www.virginamerica.com

*All Main Cabin fares are one way from $49 and require a 3-day advance purchase or a 21-day advance purchase. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Tickets must be purchased by 05.04.09. Travel must occur between 04.24.09 and 10.14.09. Orange County service begins 04.29.09. Blackout dates do not apply. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Flight may not operate daily during off-peak periods. Changes or cancellations can be made for a $50 fee if changes are made on Virgin America’s website (www.virginamerica.com) or a $75 fee through all other channels, including the call center and at the airport, plus any increase in fare, if applicable. Tickets purchased from Virgin America through our reservation call center will cost an additional $15 per guest per itinerary. Any added cost associated with purchasing tickets from Virgin America through our reservation call centers will be non-refundable. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charges of up to $9 each way, September 11th Security Fees of up to $5 each way and a Federal Segment Tax of $3.60 per domestic segment. A segment is a takeoff and landing. Fares will not be honored retroactively or in exchange for any wholly or partially used ticket. Fares are not applicable to check-through connecting flights for city pairs where direct flights are offered. For travel now through 05.04.09, Virgin America will accept one piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds free of charge for each ticketed guest. The fee per guest for a second checked bag up to 50 pounds is $25, and for each additional checked bag from the third (3) through tenth (10) of up to 50 pounds is $50. For travel beginning 05.05.09, Virgin America will accept one (1) piece of checked baggage up to 70 pounds for $15 for each ticketed guest. The fee per guest for each additional checked bag up to 50 pounds from the second (2) to the tenth (10) is $15. Additional fees apply to baggage exceeding these weight limitations, and other baggage restrictions may apply. Fares, routes, fees and schedules are subject to change without notice.