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Virgin America connects San Francisco to Denver

Airline to connect booming SF and Denver innovation economies with tech-forward flights.

SAN FRANCISCO – Virgin America, the Bay Area-based airline known for reinventing flying, is celebrating the launch of its new service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Denver International Airport (DEN) – two of the nation’s top innovation economies – with a festive welcome reception for its first commercial flight into Denver hosted by Virgin Group’s ‘Trailblazer in Chief’, Sir Richard Branson – with a short speaking program featuring Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver International Airport (DEN) CEO, Kim Day and Virgin America CEO, David Cush. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Virgin America has grown a loyal following of flyers for its business-friendly and tech-forward flight experience – including being the first and only U.S. carrier to offer fleetwide WiFi and power outlets at every seat. The Denver area, which has been dubbed “Silicon Mountain” because of its own booming innovation economy, is today the number one most requested destination by the airline’s corporate clients.
 
On the morning of March 15th, onboard the SFO – DEN inaugural flight, the airline convened a live-streamed discussion on the future of entrepreneurship with Branson, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, LinkedIn VP of Global Consumer Products Ryan Roslansky, founders from the Virgin Media and Techstars’ accelerator class and LinkedIn users worldwide via the airline’s high-speed WiFi – moderated by LinkedIn Executive Editor Dan Roth. Upon touchdown at DEN, Branson will also show local travelers what they’ve been missing when not flying Virgin America – with a fun, virtual reality tour of the airline’s cabins thanks to Google Cardboard viewers and Street View in Google Maps.
 
As part of Virgin America’s effort to grow roots in the Denver community, Denver-based high school students from the Knowledge is Power Program’s’ tech entrepreneur program will be joining the airline’s live-streamed discussion in-flight on March 15th – along with entrepreneurs –including some from the Denver area, from the ‘Virgin Media Accelerator, powered by Techstars’, an intense 13-week mentorship and guidance program launched by the UK’s ultrafast broadband provider, Virgin Media, and global entrepreneur ecosystem, Techstars.  
 
Virgin America is ideally suited to serve the Denver area. This entrepreneurial airline puts an emphasis on providing premium service and high-tech amenities that are perfect for Denver’s growing number of startup employees and business travelers,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Denver is excited for this new air service to connect two cities that truly value innovation within their economies and I’m thrilled to welcome this airline to Colorado.
 
To kick off the new flights linking two of the nation’s top innovation economies, Virgin America convened a live-streamed discussion on the future of entrepreneurship onboard the inaugural flight with Branson, Mayor Hancock, LinkedIn VP of Global Consumer Products Ryan Roslansky, startup founders and LinkedIn users worldwide via the airline’s high-speed WiFi – moderated by LinkedIn Executive Editor Dan Roth. Virgin America and LinkedIn also announced they will be joining forces to offer complimentary access to a selection of Lynda.com’s business leadership and learning courses on the airline’s ViaSat WiFi-equipped aircraft, keeping business flyers more productive while they are in the air. Upon touchdown at DEN – which recently saw its fifth consecutive record-breaking month and busiest year ever with 54 million travelers in 2015 – Branson will also show local travelers what they’ve been missing when they’re not flying Virgin America – with a fun, virtual reality tour of the airline’s cabins thanks to Google Cardboard viewers and Google Street View.
 
We are thrilled that Virgin America has added this flight, which will ensure that Colorado’s extraordinary innovators have easier access to their counterparts in San Francisco,” said Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper


 

As the only airline based in Silicon Valley – and given our own startup roots and track record of shaking up an entire industry – we know how important it is to do things differently and look forward to helping keep business travelers on these routes even more productive and connected in-flight,” said Virgin America President and Chief Executive Officer, David Cush. “We are pleased to have the opportunity  to connect two of the nation’s largest innovation economies and build strong ties with the city of Denver and state of Colorado – starting today with our new flights, the opening of our new Contact Center, and the launch of new community partnerships.
 
As an extension to the partnership with LinkedIn, starting in April 2016, business flyers on Virgin America’s ViaSat-equipped aircraft will have extended access to Lynda.com’s full library of learning content. Travelers can choose from thousands of video tutorials taught by expert instructors across a variety of topics such as business leadership, development, and technology and web design. 
 
We’ve all been there as professionals, striving to find new ways to make every minute count and to be as productive as you can be even when you’re in transit,” said Ryan Roslansky, VP of Global Consumer Products at LinkedIn. “It’s why our partnership with Virgin America makes so much sense as we offer business flyers more ways to easily access and learn new skills that can help them be more successful in their careers – all from the comfort of their Virgin flight.” 
 
Travelers have long asked us to add Virgin America to our stable of airline choices at Denver International Airport, and we are pleased to finally welcome the airline as the 19th carrier currently serving the Mile High City,” airport CEO Kim Day said. “Denver, which shares many synergies with San Francisco as a hub for technology companies and entrepreneurs, will fill a gap in Virgin America’s growing list of domestic destinations and further stimulate both business and leisure travel between Denver and the West Coast.
 
Upon arrival into Denver, Sir Richard Branson will show Denver travelers just what they’ve been missing when not flying Virgin America – by offering them a virtual reality tour of Virgin America’s innovative cabins thanks to Google Cardboard viewers on the Denver Terminal A Concourse. Virgin America is the first major U.S. airline to touch down on Google Map’s Street View by offering a 360-degree, interactive tour of the airline’s unique, consistent cabins. The Virgin Group founder will be offering local flyers the ability to take a virtual tour of the airline’s cabins on any route, showing them that there is no bait and switch: what they see is what they get when they book a flight on Virgin America. In collaboration with Google, VX created a national brand campaign “Seat View,” to encourage travelers to test drive their own flight before they take off.

 

Photo caption: Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock participate in a live-streamed discussion at 35,000 feet onboard the airline’s inaugural flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Denver International Airport Flight (DEN) – a new route that connects two of the nation’s leading innovation economies, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. To kick off the new business travel route onboard the inaugural flight today, the airline known for its modern and tech-forward service – including new, even higher speed in-flight WiFi, convened a live-streamed discussion at 35,000 feet on the future of entrepreneurship with partner LinkedIn, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and up-and-coming business leaders. (Photo by Virgin America/Bob Riha, Jr.) (PRNewsFoto/Virgin America)

 

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Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.

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