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What's Cooking At Virgin America: May Final Order, Digg Contest Down?

Virgin America has been eerily quiet since last months announcement of tentative DOT approval. Why?

Looks like a case of loose lips ground planes, so no news appears to be good news. According to our sources, last Friday was the final day for anyone and everyone to send objections to Virgin America's response to the DOT's requested changes, which included the request that current VA CEO Fred Reid take a back seat. To date, no objections to VA's response have been reported.

More than likely this means the DOT accepted VA's changes, which are rumored to include Reid moving from his CEO post to consulting role, which means, Jefferson Airplane and the rest of the VA fleet should go wheels up sometime in late June.

One interesting note, the VA web page that formerly promoted the Diggnation flight contest, a contest where winners would ride the Virgin from SFO to New York and participate in a beer fueled mid-flight podcast, is no longer active or redirecting anywhere. While the explanation could be as mundane as web monkey error, we wonder, did Virgin America ground Digg's cool contest? Or did the far reaching DOT "demand" Kevin Rose end his association with VA. Of course, we are joking, but seriously, what happened to the contest?

Here is what our inside source told us recently regarding VA's launch:

Still expecting a May final order from DOT.  For a summer launch.

Our prediction? VA, has a flare for the dramatic, and will launch to the public on July 7, 2007.

Related Stories:
·   Virgin America Coverage [Jaunted]
·   Our Virgin America Tour [Jaunted]
·   Virgin America Diggnation Contest [LetVAFly!]