Award-winning airline began weekly roundtrip nonstop JFK- PSP service on Saturday, just in time for winter getaways.
Virgin America, the San Francisco, California-based airline that has swept the prestigious travel awards in its five years of operations, announced that it is expanding its offering of upscale, low-fare flights with Saturday’s launch of new weekly nonstop service between Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Virgin America first launched seasonal flight service into the Palm Springs market in December 2011 with a daily nonstop flight from SFO and a daily “same plane” through flight from JFK to PSP. Just in time for winter getaways, the airline is now expanding its schedule with the only nonstop flight service between PSP and the New York area. Since it launched Palm Springs service, the airline has created local jobs, lowered fares and provided a fresh new flight option for Desert travelers.
In honor of the first nonstop service linking PSP to the Big Apple, guests arriving onboard the inaugural JFK to PSP Virgin America flight will receive a red carpet treatment at the PSP arrival gate with music, cocktails, food and a warm welcome from Palm Springs local leaders and airline representatives.
“Our low-fare, inventive flight service has been well-received by those traveling to and from the Palm Springs region – and we’re pleased to launch additional new service to meet guest demand,” said Virgin America’s President and CEO David Cush. “The convenience of nonstop service is something that was missing from the New York market, so we’re pleased we can offer this additional option for Northeasterners needing a winter escape to the Desert.”
“Palm Springs has long been a popular winter getaway for those trying to escape colder weather,” said Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet. “We’re excited that an airline of Virgin America’s caliber is providing service not only to those looking to enjoy our beautiful weather, but also convenient New York departure options for folks who call Palm Springs and the Desert region home.”
Known for outstanding service, beautifully designed cabins and unrivalled in-flight entertainment, Virgin America has swept the travel awards since its 2007 launch, including being named “Best Domestic Airline” in both Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the past four years and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for the past five years. Virgin America’s new fleet offers custom-designed mood-lit cabins and amenities like fleetwide WiFi, power outlets and personal entertainment at every seat. The Red platform offers guests their own seatback touch-screen TV, with 25 films, live TV, Google Maps, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, music videos, a 4000 song library and an on-demand menu – so flyers can order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. In addition to a Main Cabin that offers custom-designed leather seating with a deeper, more comfortable pitch, the airline’s First Class offers plush white leather seating with 55 inches of pitch, 165 degrees of recline and lumbar massagers. The carrier’s Main Cabin Select option offers 38-inches of pitch, free food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, dedicated overhead bins and priority check-in/boarding.
“Greater Palm Springs’ nine cities together provide world-class attractions that have become a big draw for visitors from all parts of the U.S.,” said Scott White, President and CEO, Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. “From music and arts festivals and sports tournaments to celebrations of fashion or architecture, guests from New York City and the surrounding region can now easily enjoy everything we have to offer with the convenience of Virgin America’s nonstop JFK-PSP roundtrip service.”
Palm Springs and the other cities that make up the region are the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure, arts and culture, gaming and entertainment. Known for its reputation as “Hollywood’s Playground,” a desirable desert climate, world-class resorts and golfing, shopping, special events and modern and mid-century architecture, the region has welcomed the arrival of hip boutique hotels and landmark events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
As the only California-based airline, Virgin America will continue to bring its unique brand of low-fare competition to the PSP market with a new Saturday nonstop flight from JFK to PSP – the only nonstop flight offered from the New York City area to Palm Springs. The new nonstop flight will add to Virgin America’s seasonal daily connecting flights schedule from JFK to PSP and its seasonal daily nonstop schedule from SFO to PSP.
Virgin America’s 2012-2013 nonstop JFKPSP flight schedule is as follows:
New York (JFK) – Palm Springs Palm Springs (PSP) – New York
(PSP) (JFK)
Dep Arr Freq Start date Dep Arr Freq Start date
Sat Sat
10:55 AM 2:00 PM only 22-Dec-12 2:55 PM 10:45 PM only 22-Dec-12
The new weekly JFK-PSP nonstop roundtrips build on Virgin America’s existing current PSP schedule, which currently includes a daily roundtrip between SFO and PSP.
Connecting flights are also available from PSP to Virgin America’s New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Philadelphia (PHL), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) and Washington D.C. (IAD) cities.
In just over five years flying, the airline has expanded to 20 airport destinations and has created 2,600 new jobs. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C. (IAD), Las Vegas, San Diego, Seattle, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Cabos, Cancun, Chicago, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington D.C.’s Reagan National (DCA). And on April 2, 2013, Virgin America will launch service between both SFO and LAX and its 20th airport destination, New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). This summer, Virgin America launched a suite of enhancements to its Elevate frequent flyer program – including Elevate Gold and Elevate Silver status levels that offer perks such as: priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; points earning bonuses; free checked bag allowances; enhanced digital/social rewards; private discounts; an expanded advance purchase upgrade window for the airline’s exclusive eight-seat First Class; complimentary space-available upgrades to the carrier’s premium Main Cabin Select service; and complimentary access to the best seat assignments within Main Cabin.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
