VIRGIN AMERICA has taken a further step forward with the leasing of new offices near San Francisco International Airport, in anticipation of its inaugural flight later this year. The embryo airline is moving into 42,000 square feet offices at 555 Airport Blvd in March. The move follows the securing of $177.3m last month. During the next two years, it expects to hire 1,500 people and grow within five years to 3,000 employees, most of which will be based in San Francisco”s Bay Area. Virgin America is 25% owned by the Virgin Group, the majority investors, Black Canyon Capital and Cyrus Capital Partners, US companies, as required by US law. Virgin America has 33 Airbus A320 on order. The carrier hopes to start operations before the end of this year, beginning operations with low fare service on prime transcontinental routes, such as between San Francisco and New York, aboard new Airbus 320 aircraft.
http://www.virginamerica.com