Virgin America Opens ‘New’ San Francisco Home

Virgin America has formally opened its new home at the renovated Terminal 2 (T2) at San Francisco International Airport, a facility that according to the carrier offers a “unique design that echoes the airline’s own focus” on reinventing the typical domestic flying experience.

“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, 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, Virgin America will occupy seven gates at the new T2; American Airlines will occupy six; and there will be one common-use gate.

To celebrate the opening of the new facility, Virgin America operated a special charter flight into SFO last week, with the appropriately christened Airbus A320 ‘My other Ride is a Spaceship’ flying in formation with Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. Guests onboard the aircraft included Virgin Group founder and Chairman Sir Richard Branson and space pioneer Buzz Aldrin. The two aircraft met up over the California coast before proceeding to touch down on parallel runways at SFO.

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NOTE: Schedule data extracted from Flightbase for week commencing April 14, 2011; Traffic data extracted from IATA BSP system for the year ending January 2011.