Virgin America comes to O.C.

Virgin America announced today that it will begin flying this spring out of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the ninth destination airport the airline will service.

The San Francisco-based airline will have five daily flights from San Francisco International Airport to Orange County starting April 30. Virgin America officials said introductory fares will start at $59. Virgin America, which launched in 2007, will also offer connecting flights from Orange County to Seattle, Boston, New York and Washington Dulles.

Orange County "is an enormously important travel market for us," said David Cush, Virgin America President and CEO, in a statement. He said that Virgin America, with its low fares, cabin mood lighting, and touch-screen seat-back entertainment, is "a perfect match for Orange County’s discriminating travelers."

The last time John Wayne Airport had a new airline was in 2003 with Midwest Airlines, which has since discontinued service, said Jenny Wedge, spokeswoman for the airport.

Southwest Airlines announced a few weeks ago that it will start service between Orange County and San Francisco. Other airlines that fly direct between Orange County and San Francisco are United Express under United Airlines and Delta Connection under SkyWest Airlines.

-- My-Thuan Tran