FLY2LIM From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1183 posts, RR: 11 Posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
Yesterday, I landed at SFO from LAX on the way back from LIM and saw two Virgin America 320s parked at the maintenance areas at SFO, across from the AA terminal. It was an impressive sight, though not much seemed to be going on with the aircraft.
I searched and saw a couple of similar threads, but none addressed how long the planes had been at SFO and why they are even there in the first place, since the airline doesn't have certification yet.
Any comments?
FLY2LIM
FLY2LIM From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1183 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2289 times:
BigGSFO From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 2755 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 2289 times:
That's funny. I thought VX was leasing out their 11 buses...so I would assume that would include the two at SFO.
Tozairport From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 670 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2044 times:
At least one of them has been there for some time, and yes, yesterday there were two of them there. They are parked over in the general aviation area of the airport and have been doing an excellent job of collecting dust.
Agreed! As long as they sit over in general aviation doing nothing and not flying our domestic skies as a foreign controlled carrier, it is an impressive sight.
Xpfg From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 628 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2024 times:
The airline is based in Burlingame, CA, which is pretty much San Fran. One of the aircraft is stationed around the airport for commercial purposes, and the other is one of several aircraft used by VX to bring higher up staff back and forth from New York. The aircraft actually come from Griffis Airpark though.
As of now, the two aircraft in SFO are 622VA and 623VA, however, 624VA, and 625VA have also made their visits to SFO.
ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Reply 6, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1927 times:
Now are they allowed to fly the aircraft for promotion as long as they don't do scheduled or charter service?
I mean, I was just thinking it might be a good idea for them to fly to the 40 airports they said they could potentially served to try to muster up some support... I mean, instead of them just sitting there..
or would the price of gas be too much for that kind of promotions? I could see it.. 40 days and 40 nights to 40 cities by Virgin America...
StarGoldLHR From Heard and McDonald Islands, joined Feb 2004, 1529 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1891 times:
The sad thing is, if this airline was called anything except Virgin, it would have got by without raising an eyebrow.
Put the Virgin name on the side and everyone run's screaming.
So far in 2008 45 flights and Gold already. JFK, IAD, LGA, SIN, HKG, NRT, AKL, PPT, LAX still to book ! Home Airport LCY
FLY2LIM From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1183 posts, RR: 11 Reply 8, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1677 times:
Quoting Xpfg (Reply 5): The airline is based in Burlingame, CA, which is pretty much San Fran. One of the aircraft is stationed around the airport for commercial purposes, and the other is one of several aircraft used by VX to bring higher up staff back and forth from New York. The aircraft actually come from Griffis Airpark though.
As of now, the two aircraft in SFO are 622VA and 623VA, however, 624VA, and 625VA have also made their visits to SFO.
I was aware of where their headquarters were and it made sense for them to be in SFO. However, I found it curious that they had them just parked there in plain sight, and TWO of them. I am aware they don't have an operating license yet, so I wasn't sure why they had two aircraft. Now I find out they actually have four, lol.
Thanks for the info.
Quoting StarGoldLHR (Reply 7): The sad thing is, if this airline was called anything except Virgin, it would have got by without raising an eyebrow.
Put the Virgin name on the side and everyone run's screaming.
I had just returned from a trip to LIM, via MIA and LAX. I was very tired, so I don't recall either running or screaming, lol. The reason I started the thread is simply because it's an airline I'm very aware of and because it felt strange seeing their planes ready to fly but just parked at a major airport. I would have started the thread with any airline like that.
Richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4022 posts, RR: 6 Reply 9, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1660 times:
Quoting StarGoldLHR (Reply 7): The sad thing is, if this airline was called anything except Virgin, it would have got by without raising an eyebrow.
Put the Virgin name on the side and everyone run's screaming.
I think calling it "Sir Richard Air" might have caused some problems...
ChrisNH From United States of America, joined Jun 1999, 3804 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1482 times:
Quoting StarGoldLHR (Reply 7): The sad thing is, if this airline was called anything except Virgin, it would have got by without raising an eyebrow.
Put the Virgin name on the side and everyone run's screaming.
I agree. And the ones doing the screaming are a gaggle of legacy carriers who are either mired in bankruptcy or so full of themselves (likely, both) that they can't stand the thought of someone else coming along. Trot out all the legislators, all the political 'hired guns'...anyone that can roadblock this some more, allowing the 'high and mighty' legacies to continue doing what they do best: losing money, pissing off customers, playing 'can-you-top-this' with their competition, and other 'reindeer games.'
Talk about NIMBY-ism. These legacy fossils want to padlock the playground now that they're in it.
Tbear815 From United States of America, joined Jun 2003, 704 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (6 years 2 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1451 times:
I do apologize if I may sound ignorant, but there has been some question as to the management background at Virgin America (with the exception of Sir Richard). Posters have written that headquarters are in Burlingame, CA. I'm quite familiar with that area and its proximity to San Francisco. Also, one of the most expensive places to live in the US. Posters have also written that the Virgin America aircraft have been used to transport higher up staff back and forth to New York.
Something in the whole equation doesn't seem to add up. I remember the days of Frank Lorenzo et al. Are there some similarities emerging here?
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