Virgin America is largely modelled off Virgin Australia, right down to the lighting in the planes, the uniforms and the in-flight entertainment. I'm not sure how much of this is borrowed from Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Australia is a very successful company - started in 2001 by Richard Branson and a few others with about $4 million in capital, 2 aircraft and a single route, and they managed to be around when one half of the cosy duopoly of Australian airline industry went bankrupt in October 2001, as a direct result of the September 11 attacks and subsequent collapse in air travel.
As a result they expanded from 2 planes to 90 in 10 years, expanded from a domestic carrier to an international carrier and have progressed from being a budget airline to much more like the model that Virgin America now has - cheaper pricing but better service, two class cabins and business lounges.
I would expect that if Virgin America proves to be remotely as successful, then it is here to stay.
Virgin Australia is a very successful company - started in 2001 by Richard Branson and a few others with about $4 million in capital, 2 aircraft and a single route, and they managed to be around when one half of the cosy duopoly of Australian airline industry went bankrupt in October 2001, as a direct result of the September 11 attacks and subsequent collapse in air travel.
As a result they expanded from 2 planes to 90 in 10 years, expanded from a domestic carrier to an international carrier and have progressed from being a budget airline to much more like the model that Virgin America now has - cheaper pricing but better service, two class cabins and business lounges.
I would expect that if Virgin America proves to be remotely as successful, then it is here to stay.