Virgin America to file application to operate today

0 Comments | USA TODAY, January, 2006 | by Roger Yu

Airline start-up Virgin America plans today to file its application to operate with federal safety regulators, a key step in CEO Fred Reid's plan to start flying, possibly this year.

The airline, a brainchild of British billionaire and Virgin Atlantic founder Richard Branson, is the latest in a series of start-ups hoping to entice passengers with discount fares and top-flight service.

In an interview, Reid, a veteran U.S. airline executive, said Virgin America would initially fly between its San Francisco base and New York, most likely John F. Kennedy airport. But Reid declined to speculate about additional routes. Nor would he commit to a starting date beyond expressing hope that the proposed carrier will be in the air in 2006.

Initial funding for Virgin...