Virgin America to add nine aircraft, serve Toronto, Orlando

Virgin America yesterday announced it will add nine A320s (six arriving this year and three scheduled in the 2011 first quarter), bringing its fleet to 37 and enabling it to launch new daily flights to Orlando International from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Aug. 19.

VX will cease SFO-Orange County service on May 26 as part of a growing emphasis on longer flights and said it plans to open "at least" three additional destinations later this year. Contingent on regulatory approval, it plans to begin daily service from LAX and SFO to Toronto Pearson, its first international destination, as early as June.

"Despite our relatively strong performance at [Orange County], given our new fleet plan and network prospects, we've made the decision to focus on the immediate long-haul opportunities that the Orlando and Toronto markets provide," Virgin America President and CEO David Cush said. By this time next year it plans to grow its fleet by approximately one-third. "With strong financial performance, a new ownership structure and growth in fleet size, we're pleased to be able to expand," Cush added. It currently operates 28 A320s. The nine new aircraft will leased, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Last year the US Dept. of Transportation launched a review of VX's ownership after US interests dipped below the required 75% voting stake (ATWOnline, Aug. 24, 2009). It was cleared as a "US citizen. . .under the actual control of US citizens" in January after implementing changes regarding investment and board composition and now is "poised for major growth in 2010," it said (ATWOnline, Jan. 11).

Launched in 2007, VX reported record load factors, improved unit costs, and its first quarterly operating profit ($157.9 million) in the 2009 third quarter, a 38.3% increase year-over-year (ATWOnline, Dec. 14, 2009).