Partnership Allows Connecting Flight On A Single Ticket

An interline agreement has been announced between Virgin America and Air China Limited, the national flag carrier of China, which offers seamless travel on the networks of both carriers across their respective routes in North America and Asia. Passengers may buy a single ticket on Air China that will allow them to connect from a Virgin America city to Beijing and beyond via San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Both airlines will transfer baggage between connecting flights to passengers’ final destinations.

Interline electronic tickets for Virgin America and Air China connecting flights can now be booked through all the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and via Air China’s North America Call Center. “We are pleased to launch an interline agreement with Air China that will provide guests of both our airlines connectivity across our two networks and extensive new choices as they plan travel between mainland China and North America,” said Adam Green, Virgin America’s Director of Network Planning. “Virgin America’s 2,600 teammates look forward to welcoming our new Air China guests onboard.”

“Our partnership with Virgin America creates convenient connecting opportunities at Air China’s strategically important gateways in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York," said Dr. Zhihang Chi, Air China’s Vice President for North America. "This expands and strengthens both our networks and benefits travelers from the United States and China.”

Air China offers daily nonstop service from Beijing to San Francisco and New York, plus double daily flights to Los Angeles with the new generation B777-300ER. It is the only carrier with nonstop service between Los Angeles and Beijing. Its ‘triple seven’ features eight Forbidden Pavilion First Class luxury suites, 41 Capital Pavilion Business Class flat-seat beds and 259 economy seats with individual monitors and audio-video-on-demand (AVOD) entertainment system. Air China’s New York and San Francisco aircraft are scheduled to be upgraded to the B777-300ER in 2013.

In addition to the new Air China agreement, Virgin America has interline agreements with Virgin Australia, Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, South African Airways, El Al, Qantas, China Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Pacific, Japan Airlines, SATA and Thai Airways.

FMI: www.virginamerica.com/travel/virgin-partners.html