Tuesday night Virgin America threw its holiday party and the airline toasted CEO Fred Reid by naming its very first aircraft in his honor: The A320 in question will now be known as Fred, White and Blue.
The current chief is riding off into the sunset soon, but we couldn't let him escape before asking his thoughts on the Department of Transportations plans to regulate takeoff and landing slots at JFK--something that could have a profound effect on new airlines like Virgin America.
Virgin America, which the Department of Transportation says must replace Fred Reid, has tapped C. David Cush for the top job, starting December 10. Cush is a long-time American Airlines exec currently working in sales, but he brings operations experience to the table, too. Sounds like just the guy you need for an expanding route network.
While we don't expect to see any major shake-ups right away because of the change, Cush is coming on at a contentious time. Virgin continues to expand, but is trying to avoid the congestion that's plaguing US airports.
The airline's gone so far as to preemptively ask for an exemption if caps are put on flights in and out of JFK--something that's possible if not likely. VA says that its start-up status affords some special protections. An industry trade group says no airline deserves special treatment, least of all one that hasn't helped build JFK into the hub it is today.
While we wait to see how that plays out, we'll be holding our breath to see if Fred Reid slams through his game-changing dining options before taking off in two weeks.
A few days ago, we mentioned the changesVirgin America CEO/poker enthusiastFred Reid would like to see on his airline. That prompted Jaunted member markj to ask, "Does he still have to step down in November? That was the original deal."
Not in November, says airline spokeswoman Abby Lunardini. But Reid will have to step down on February 18, 2008:
The May 18, 2007 DOT final order stipulated that Fred would have to step down--based on his ties to Branson. Essentially, because Richard helped to hire him, the DOT claimed that Fred was beholden to him and therefore to "foreign interests." We were all surprised and sad about that--especially because Fred is one of the few people born and raised in SF [where VA is based].
That gives Reid less than four months to get more service off the ground. And here's something we didn't hear from Abby: When more routes are announced in the next few weeks, expect flights to San Diego to be among them.
We already know that Virgin America has a tricked out entertainment system and is working on in-flight WiFi. But CEO/poker enthusiastFred Reid isn't done building the airline. In a recent interview with Fast Company he says food is the next thing on his agenda:
[The food] is not where I want it to be yet. I'm looking for an upscale option. For some reason, most airlines think that they have to offer you a soggy, cold turkey sandwich for $4. My challenge to my team is: I dare you to do a $20 meal option, because anybody who's traveling on business should be able to expense that. For $20, I can put on something kick-ass--and I'd be the only one doing it.
While Reid says that's his plan, he also describes hating the food when he was president of Delta. He says the food was so bad, he'd bring his own on board, even though he could obviously expense the airline-provided meal. If we're going to shell out 20 bucks for some grub, it better be tasty enough for the airline's CEO.
"I want to take some time and spend it with you," "Insert through the rear and swipe to the left?" Wait a second! What is Charles Ogilvie, Virgin America's Director of Inflight Entertainment & Partnerships, trying to tell us? Bummer, but our saucy video guide was just explaining how to order a turkey sandwich on VA's seatback entertainment system. The above clip was just released to YouTube. So who's the better host: Ogilvie or CEO-in-dangerFred Reid?
Key points: IFE is a Linux-based PC at every seat; a "food hot button" to feed us ravenous Americans; Virgin will be inviting Linux game developers to write games for its system; tons of movies available, but apparently on a pay-per-view basis only. It's clearly the most advanced system offered in the skies on the ground by a domestic airline. But will it let us order an Executives of Virgin America pinup calendar?
Embattled would-be budget airline Virgin America, which was recently shot down by the DOT for not being virginal American enough, promised to reveal its cabin product today. And here it is, hot off the presses, having just been released to YouTube hours ago.
Above, CEO Fred Reid tours the cabin of a Virgin America A320. Key points: there is a first class (it has 8 seats), USB jacks at every seat, chat room on the AVOD, on-screen food ordering, and the fact that VA is "ready to rock." We also noticed that the first class seats are white leather, while the econs (in the back of the plane) are black. Where is Ali G when you need him?
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