Virgin cancels flights to John Wayne
Thursday, March 18, 2010
(Image by Flickr user slasher-fun/Creative Commons)
Virgin America announced Thursday that it will cancel its flights to John Wayne Airport beginning in May. The announcement comes less than a year after Virgin began its OC service, flying to and from San Francisco.
Virgin, a low-cost carrier, is shifting its planes to more profitable routes. John Wayne’s short runway limits the size of planes and Virgin couldn’t reach its desired destinations with smaller jets. On Thursday the company also announced it will add direct service from Los Angeles to Orlando and Toronto.
“Despite our relatively strong performance at SNA, given our new fleet plan and network prospects, we’ve made the decision to focus on the immediate long-haul opportunities that the Orlando and Toronto markets provide,” Virgin America president and CEO David Cush said in a press release.
For passengers who had booked a flight for travel after May 26, the last day of the San Francisco service, Virgin has offered to move guests to an LAX or San Diego flight with no difference in fare or change fee, or to refund the fare with no cancellation fee, according to spokeswoman Abby Lunardini.
OC residents will still be able to fly direct to San Francisco on United Airlines, United Express and Southwest Airlines. The route had become especially competitive last year, with Virgin’s in-flight amenities making it tough for traditional carriers to win over passengers at the same low price. American Eagle canceled its OC flights to the Bay Area in November.
This latest cancellation by Virgin leaves flights open for a new carrier, said Jenny Wedge, John Wayne spokeswoman. “We’re sorry to see them go, but we still feel that we have a strong market here in Orange County,” she said.
Three airlines are on the waiting list for service at OC, Wedge said: Air Tran, West Jet and Horizon Air.
Virgin will begin LAX to Orlando operations in August, with flights starting at $149 one-way.
Tags: John Wayne Airport, San Francisco, Southwest, Virgin America
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Comment by: Nicole Posted: March 18, 2010, 5:12 pm
Yeah Mike! I love this website – thanks for signing me up!
Comment by: nycinoc Posted: March 22, 2010, 6:28 pm
Funny how just less then a year ago Virgin America CEO and President David Cush was saying that how “as the only California-based airline, Orange County is an important travel market for us”
This is a real shame and a slap in the face for us OC residents.