Virgin America Unveils New SFO Home, Toasts Evolution of Flight with Virgin Galatic

Virgin America unveiled its new home at San Francisco International Airport’s (SFO) Terminal 2 (T2) today with a series of inaugural flights that celebrate the evolution of travel.  As the only California-based airline, Virgin America is an anchor tenant at SFO’s new T2, which offers a unique design that echoes the airline’s own focus on reinventing the typical domestic flying experience.  Much like the airline that will call it home, the new T2 elevates the travel experience by offering the best in design, technology, food and sustainable practices.  With over a half century of history, the 640,000-square foot T2 has been completely reinvented  for the modern traveler by architecture and interior firm Gensler and aims to be the first LEED® Gold-certified airport terminal in the U.S.

“As a new airline we’ve been able to use the latest in technology, design and sustainable practices to enhance the traveler experience, and we hope elevate the journey beyond just getting from Point A to Point B,” said David Cush, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virgin America.  “We’re proud to unveil a new home that similarly reinvents the travel experience for the modern flyer – and that also reflects the innovative, forward-looking spirit of our San Francisco home.”

Virgin America is the only California-based airline and its decision to headquarter in the Bay Area has helped make SFO one of the nation’s few growing airports.  As of April 14, 2011, Virgin America will occupy seven gates at the new T2; American Airlines will occupy six; and there will be one common-use gate.

With outstanding service, custom-designed cabins and high-tech amenities, Virgin America has been winning over consumers and travel awards since its August 2007 launch – including capturing the “Best Domestic Airline” title in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s  World’s Best Awards for the past three years.  Virgin America has created 1,900 jobs and welcomed more than 11 million guests since its launch.  The airline continues to fuel significant expansion, with its employee base projected to grow by 500 additional teammates a year and its fleet projected to triple in size by 2019.

“Virgin America has the most advanced and carbon-efficient commercial fleet in the U.S. and when it touches down today at its new home it will share the runway with the future of commercial aerospace – SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo,” said George Whitesides, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic. “We’re proud that two Virgin-branded companies can link the cutting-edge present to the future of commercial aviation.  It is also fitting that today’s flights are helping to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and aviators.”

Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) represents a giant leap forward in aerospace design and will enable safe and commercially-viable access to space for private individuals and academic researchers.