US carrier Virgin America is to inaugurate flights to Palm Springs International Airport in California this winter with direct flights from its San Francisco base and a one-stop service from New York John F Kennedy International. The destination, known for its reputation as ‘Hollywood’s Playground’, as well as for an enviable desert climate, resorts and golfing, shopping, special events and modern and mid-century architecture, will be the 16th destination in Virgin America’s network.
The airline will launch a daily seasonal flight from San Francisco between December 15, 2011 and April 30, 2012 as well as offering same-plane through-flights from New York. This will be one of the existing five daily flights that Virgin America offers between San Francisco and New York.
“As the only California-based airline, we’re pleased to launch seasonal service to one of our state’s most popular getaway spots – Palm Springs and the surrounding desert resort cities,” said David Cush, President and Chief Executive Officer, Virgin America. “Our expansion to the region will inject some much-needed competition into the air travel market.”
There are seven flights per day planned between San Francisco and Palm Springs this winter although there are none of the established low-cost operator currently serving the route and will mean Virgin America’s arrival is sure to change the dynamic of market. United Airlines has five flights per day operated using Bombardier CRJs of SkyWest Airlines, while Alaska Airlines offers two rotations per day.
An estimated 151,000 O&D passengers travelled on the route in the past year, up 5.9 per cent on the previous 12 month period. As well as rising demand, yields have strengthened as average on-way fares have increased from $142 to $152, although much of this additional revenue will have been offset by increased operational costs. An estimated 11,000 O&D passengers made the journey between Palm Springs and New York in the last year despite a lack of direct flights.
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