What Does Virgin America Do?

Total employees3182
HeadquartersBurlingame
Founded2004

Virgin America Inc. was a U.S.-based airline that began service on August 8, 2007. Known for its vibrant branding, tech-forward amenities (like mood lighting, in-flight Wi-Fi, and seat-back entertainment systems), and focus on customer service, it aimed to make flying a more enjoyable experience. Headquartered in Burlingame, California, Virgin America operated flights to various destinations across the United States and Mexico. The airline was majority-owned by Richard Branson's Virgin Group and New York-based Cyrus Capital Partners. On April 4, 2016, Alaska Air Group announced it would acquire Virgin America. The acquisition was completed on December 14, 2016. The Virgin America brand was officially retired on April 24, 2018, with all flights, aircraft, and services fully integrated into Alaska Airlines. The airline won numerous awards for its service and passenger experience during its operational years.

Where Is Virgin America's Headquarters?

Virgin America officeVirgin America officeVirgin America officeVirgin America office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Served as the central hub for corporate operations, strategic planning, marketing, flight operations management, and administrative functions for the airline prior to its acquisition.

Notable Features:

The headquarters likely featured modern office spaces designed to reflect Virgin's distinctive and contemporary brand image, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Work Culture:

Virgin America was known for a vibrant, fun, and employee-focused work culture that emphasized innovation, customer satisfaction, and a 'work hard, play hard' mentality, reflecting its fresh approach to the airline industry.

HQ Significance:

The Burlingame headquarters was the nerve center for Virgin America's operations, crucial for its growth, brand development, and the distinctive customer experience it offered until its acquisition by Alaska Airlines.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters aimed to embody values of innovation, style, customer-centricity, and a modern approach to business, aligning with the Virgin brand ethos.

Location:

Prior to its acquisition by Alaska Airlines, Virgin America primarily operated domestic flights within the United States, serving major cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Seattle, Washington D.C., Boston, and Las Vegas. It also had limited international service to leisure destinations in Mexico, including Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and San José del Cabo. Its global presence was defined by its flight routes rather than extensive international offices.

Street Address:

555 Airport Boulevard

City:

Burlingame

State/Province:

California

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Virgin America Operate Around the World?

San Francisco, CA, USA

Address: San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, CA 94128

Served as the main West Coast hub connecting to various U.S. destinations and select routes to Mexico.

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Address: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Acted as a key Southern California gateway, supporting a wide range of domestic routes and connecting a large passenger base.

Dallas, TX, USA

Address: Dallas Love Field (DAL), 8008 Herb Kelleher Way, Dallas, TX 75235

Provided a crucial connection point in Texas, enhancing its national network coverage, particularly after Wright Amendment restrictions were lifted.

Buying Intent Signals for Virgin America

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Virgin America? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Virgin America' leadership includes:

David Cush - President and Chief Executive Officer (until 2016)
Peter Hunt - Chief Financial Officer (until acquisition)
Steve Forte - Chief Operating Officer & EVP (until acquisition)
Luanne Calvert - Chief Marketing Officer (until acquisition)
John MacLeod - Senior Vice President, Planning and Sales (until acquisition)

Who's Investing in Virgin America?

Virgin America has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Virgin Group Ltd.
Cyrus Capital Partners L.P.
Black Canyon Capital LLC (earlier investor)

What Leadership Changes Has Virgin America Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits1

Most executive changes at Virgin America occurred in relation to its acquisition by Alaska Air Group in 2016 and the subsequent integration process, which concluded in 2018. Key Virgin America executives typically departed or transitioned as the merger progressed.

Departures

David Cush, David Cush departed his role as President and CEO after Alaska Air Group finalized the acquisition of Virgin America.

New Appointments:

Ben Minicucci (Alaska Airlines), Following David Cush's departure, Ben Minicucci, then COO and President of Alaska Airlines, also became CEO of Virgin America to oversee the integration process.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byVirgin America?

Discover the tools Virgin America uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Virgin America Email Formats and Examples

Virgin America, like many corporations, likely used standardized email formats for its employees. Common formats include [first_name].[last_name]@[companydomain].com or [first_initial][last_name]@[companydomain].com. As the company is now defunct, these email addresses are no longer active.

firstname.lastname@virginamerica.com or f[last_initial]@virginamerica.com

Format

john.doe@virginamerica.com

Example

0%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Virgin America?

Alaska Airlines NewsroomDecember 14, 2016

Alaska Air Group Closes Acquisition of Virgin America

Alaska Air Group announced it had officially closed its acquisition of Virgin America, creating a larger airline poised to offer more choices and enhanced competition, particularly on the West Coast....more

USA TodayApril 24, 2018

The Virgin America brand officially flies into the sunset

Virgin America operated its final branded flight, marking the official retirement of the airline's name and livery as it fully merged into Alaska Airlines. All subsequent flights operated under the Alaska Airlines single operating certificate....more

New York TimesAugust 8, 2007

Virgin America Begins Service

Virgin America launched its inaugural flights from San Francisco, aiming to bring style, better service, and lower fares to the U.S. domestic market, with Richard Branson on board the first flight....more

Alaska Airlines NewsroomMarch 22, 2017

Alaska Airlines announces phased retirement of Virgin America brand

Alaska Airlines outlined its plan for integrating Virgin America, stating that the Virgin America brand would be retired by early 2019, with cabin enhancements and other customer-facing elements being adopted from Virgin America's popular offerings....more

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