Virgin America said Monday it will start flights from John Wayne Airport starting April 30.
The airline, which is based in Northern California and is partially owned by Britain’s Virgin Group Ltd., will fly five flights a day from John Wayne to its hub in San Francisco.
“Orange County is an enormously important travel market for us,” said Virgin America Chief Executive David Cush. “We couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with John Wayne Airport to bring our service to the region.”
Virgin America was rumored last month to be in talks with John Wayne after some of the airline slots became available on the airport’s waiting list.
Due to a spike in fuel prices last summer and the deepening recession, the number of passengers at John Wayne fell 10% during the first 11 months of this year, compared to the same period in 2007, according to a spokeswoman for John Wayne Airport.
Virgin America will launch the Orange County service with special introductory fares starting at $59 for its main cabin.
American Eagle, a part of Texas’s AMR Corp., United Airlines, a part of Chicago’s UAL Corp., and Utah’s SkyWest Inc. already offer a similar route between OC and San Francisco.
Virgin America joins Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. with plans to add five nonstop flights between John Wayne Airport and San Francisco International Airport in May.
