More new A320s will let Virgin America grow at San Francisco in 2016. (Image: Virgin America)
Calling San Francisco “the strongest corporate market in the United States right now,” Virgin America Airlines CEO David Cush said in discussing third quarter earnings this week that the carrier plans to boost its overall capacity by 13 to 14 percent in 2016 — and perhaps even more than that at SFO.
In fact, the airline hasn’t yet stopped its 2015 growth at San Francisco: It starts service to Honolulu on November 2 ( and TravelSkills will be on the inaugural with a full report 🙂 ) and to Maui on December 3, providing attractive new vacation destinations to its Elevate frequent flyer members.
Cush told reporters and analysts that Virgin will probably add one or two more destinations from San Francisco next year — although he didn’t identify any possibilities — and it will add capacity on its existing routes from San Francisco to New York JFK and Ft. Lauderdale as it takes delivery of more new A320s in 2016.
While the San Francisco market has been booming, Virgin’s relatively new operations at Dallas Love Field, which now account for 12 percent of its overall capacity, have not, with revenue per available seat mile down 19 percent in tough competition with Southwest. Virgin will end its Dallas Love Field-Austin service next month, but it plans to begin twice-daily Love Field-Las Vegas flights December 1.
Virgin America remained in the black during the third quarter, reporting net income of $73 million — a gain of $31 million from the same quarter last year.
Which city would you most like to see Virgin America fly to? (My vote is for Atlanta!) Leave your vote below…
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SFO-ATL because my elderly parents live there and I am now spoiled having flown Virgin America to other destinations!
I would like to see Atlanta too — a flight between LAX and Atlanta. Lots of L.A. Hollywood industry types are having to go there. There’s also a lot of big business that has flocked to the state as well.
Every freaking airport in the US because quite frankly all other airlines suck compared to them!
Southwest also flies MSY-OAK.
I think this makes sense. Denver is a United Hub and SFO-MSY really only has one direct flight with United.
SJO, San Jose, Costa Rica
Hi Chris. Would love to see VA base some planes in Oakland to avoid the drive over the bridge.
More DCA or IAD services down to FLL, MIA, MCO. Break the strangle hold that AA has in this space.
HOU Hobby (might result in less retaliation from UA?) … They want to serve business folks so they can’t avoid ‘other people’s hubs’ forever. Might as well establish a market when fuel prices as low
1) Orange County 2) Houston 3) ATL
Philly (again)
Denver, please.
Unlikely. Flying between 2 fortress hubs is not gonna be profitable
Atlanta
MSY – New Orleans
I hope SFO-SNA…which they previously offered. I also think SFO-CLT and SFO-ATL would be smart challenges to less impressive equipment on UA, AA, and DL
SFO to IFP. Yes, that’s right, IFP, which is Bullhead City, Arizona, right across the Colorado River from Laughlin, Nevada. I have family there and I’m getting tired of flying into Vegas, renting a car, and driving 100 miles south. They get plenty of big planes already from casino charter flights. My cousins take them all the time from rather surprising locations in the Midwest.
I really think Denver makes alot of sense for VX. Also helps that DEN is reorganizing there gates since Frontier is giving up 6 gates there
Here’s another vote for MSY! I’m SFO-based, but there’s quite a bit of traffic between the Bay Area and the Big Easy.
My vote is for New Orleans. Currently, MSY-SFO is only served nonstop by one daily United flight. Of course, I’m MSY-based, so my motivations are clear.