Virgin America Goes International: California's Airline Toasts New Toronto Flights

Virgin America's headquarters are LEED certified and its new home at SFO's Terminal Two will be LEED certified as well. Virgin America operates one of the youngest fleets in North America and its mood-lit, custom-designed cabins feature the Red(TM) entertainment system, the most advanced in-flight entertainment platform in the skies. The Red system's touch-screen offers 20 films, live TV, Google Maps, an MP3 library, videogames, an on-demand menu that allows guests to order at their seat, and even select Carbonfund.org offsets. In 2009, the airline became the first to offer WiFi fleetwide.

"San Francisco is proud to have Virgin America as its hometown airline," said Mayor Newsom. "Since 2007, they have created hundreds of jobs, lowered fares and helped make SFO one of the nation's few growing airports."

Upon touchdown in Toronto, the Airbus A320 aircraft, "Air Drake," will make a splashy entrance into Canada with a water cannon salute, an international welcoming committee and a red carpet party on the arrival tarmac. Flight guests and Torontonians will be feted later this evening, as Virgin America takes over the trendy new spot to see and be seen - The Thompson Toronto - for a launch party that may just cause an international incident.

"Virgin America is adding direct connections between California and Toronto and doing it in style," added Lloyd McCoomb, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. "We are thrilled to welcome another airline to Toronto and look forward to working with Virgin America. The connections between Toronto, San Francisco and Los Angeles make perfect sense, and it is wonderful to have Virgin America connecting our great cities."

In addition to being a good time, the Toronto launch will help do some good: by raising funds for Virgin Unite and mentoring some aspiring entrepreneurs along the way - literally. Sir Richard, Eric Ryan (Co-Founder of eco-friendly cleaning product company Method), Jason Pomeranc (Thompson Hotel Group Founder) and other outside-the-box business leaders, will host "airplane pitch" sessions with young entrepreneurs en route from SFO to YYZ. Also today, Virgin America kicks off its search for the "Virgin America Toronto Provocateur" who is Virgin enough to represent the airline in Toronto. For every entry, the airline will raise funds for Virgin Unite's Young Entrepreneurs, which provides training and seed funds to disadvantaged young people.

"Trade, travel, and innovation are keys to one of the closest bilateral relationships in history, and more connections mean more prosperity," said U.S. Consul General Kevin Johnson, who helps welcome the Virgin America flight to Toronto today. "Vibrant, diverse, and already a gateway to much of the U.S. and the world, Toronto and Ontario are natural partners for California, where ideas and dreams are born."

Virgin America's Toronto service began on June 23, however the celebratory first flight occurs today due to G8/G20 summit events. Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, and starting in the fall of 2010 - Orlando.

Virgin America's Toronto Main Cabin fares start at $178 USD**/$174 CAD*** (SFO-YYZ) and $187 USD**/$182 CAD*** (LAX-YYZ).

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled, owned and operated airline. It is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.