Virgin America A320-214 (2851) prepares to turn onto Rwy 19R at SNA as it returns to San Francisco following it's noise test flights on Wednesday Jan. 28. (Photo by Michael Carter)Virgin America announced today it will start service at John Wayne Airport April 30.
The airline will fly five flights a day from JWA to its hub in San Francisco.
Virgin will launch its Orange County service with a special introductory one-way fare of $59 for its main cabin. Other fares will be $145 in the new Main Cabin Select premium service and from $209 in the First Class cabin. For the introductory fares, tickets must be purchased by April 14 and your trip must begin on or after April 30 and be completed by June 10.
The airline will fly five flights a day from JWA to its hub in San Francisco.
Virgin will launch its Orange County service with a special introductory one-way fare of $59 for its main cabin. Other fares will be $145 in the new Main Cabin Select premium service and from $209 in the First Class cabin. For the introductory fares, tickets must be purchased by April 14 and your trip must begin on or after April 30 and be completed by June 10.
“Orange County is an enormously important travel market for us,” said Virgin America chief executive David Cush in a statement released by the airline. “We couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with John Wayne Airport to bring our unique, award-winning service to the region.”
Virgin said last month it was considering flying out of JWA after some airline slots became available on the airport’s waiting list.
Virgin said last month it was considering flying out of JWA after some airline slots became available on the airport’s waiting list.
The coveted slot openings, which are restricted due to noise controls, became available after the collapse last April of Aloha Airlines. Aloha flew three daily round trips to and from John Wayne Airport. Alaska Airlines also cut back its JWA service last year.
Midwest Airlines was the last commercial airline to initiate service at John Wayne. It started flying out of Orange County in 2004, but discontinued service in early 2005, said airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge.
Virgin’s chance to come to Orange County shows the major shakeup in the airline industry over the last year.
Midwest Airlines was the last commercial airline to initiate service at John Wayne. It started flying out of Orange County in 2004, but discontinued service in early 2005, said airport spokeswoman Jenny Wedge.
Virgin’s chance to come to Orange County shows the major shakeup in the airline industry over the last year.
In June, Virgin was No. 5 on JWA’s waiting list for the airport’s limited slots, behind Air Canada, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Tran and WestJet.
Wedge said today that JWA officials are in negotiations with the airline and anticipate flights will begin by summer.
Hawaiian Air said it had no plans to launch any service if it was offered slots. Air Tran and WestJet were noncommital about flying out of JWA.
Wedge said today that JWA officials are in negotiations with the airline and anticipate flights will begin by summer.
Hawaiian Air said it had no plans to launch any service if it was offered slots. Air Tran and WestJet were noncommital about flying out of JWA.
The Virgin announcement comes at a hard time for the airport. JWA passenger traffic dropped 9.9% last year as tourists and business people cut back on travel. It is only the second time since the Thomas F. Riley Terminal opened in 1990 that the airport has seen year-over-year passenger traffic decline. The only previous drop was in 1998.
JWA wasn’t alone. LAX traffic fell 4.7% last year.
JWA wasn’t alone. LAX traffic fell 4.7% last year.
(Orange County Register)
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