SAN FRANCISCO - Virgin America announces it will bring its low-fare, upscale service to New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) as of April 2, 2013, with tickets on sale today for three daily nonstop roundtrip flights from both San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to EWR. With fleetwide WiFi, custom-designed leather seating, power outlets, personal touch-screen entertainment platforms and new aircraft with three classes of service, Virgin America's business-friendly flights will offer a fresh new option for travelers to the region.
"As a low-fare carrier with new planes that look like nothing else in the skies, we hope our flights can offer some healthy competition and a better choice for travelers," said Virgin America President and CEO David Cush. "Just like in any industry, when more companies compete – consumers win. This is a hugely important market and one that deserves more flight options. We are thankful to the Port Authority and the local leaders who were instrumental in making this happen and who had the vision to increase air service options at Newark Liberty."
Headquartered in California, Virgin America has already built a strong following of bi-coastal flyers with its popular nonstop flights from both LAX and SFO to New York's JFK. As one of the few U.S. airlines adding jobs in the past five years, Virgin America has created more than 2,600 new American jobs since its launch. It is estimated that for every one new airline job created, there is a 5:1 job multiplier.
The addition of Newark to its network means Virgin America will now serve eight of the top ten business markets from both SFO and LAX.
"We couldn't be more pleased to welcome more new flight options to Newark Airport,'' said Susan Baer, the Port Authority's aviation director. "More air service is a strong driver of regional economic development and jobs."
With top-notch guest service, beautifully-designed cabins and inventive in-flight amenities, Virgin America has taken top honors as "Best U.S. Airline" in both Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards and Travel+Leisure's annual World's Best Awards every year since its 2007 launch. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline's First Class offers plush white leather seats with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier's Main Cabin Select offers 38 inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media, priority check-in/boarding and more. All guests enjoy their own personal entertainment via a nine-inch seatback touch-screen with: