Member

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 142
Location: IND

I saw an announcement from Virgin America where they listed IND as a city they would serve as they expand.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Last I heard Virgin America got denied their request for an operating certificate.

Member

Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 106
Location:

Yeah, they did, but the DOT allows them to file an appeal. Last I heard, they had received an extension of their appeal deadline to allow them time to correct everything the DOT didn't like about their original proposal. I hope they get off the ground and get to Indy. Their planes are nice!

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Why were they denied orginially?

Member

Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 106
Location:

Basically because the DOT felt that there was too much foreign investment in the airline. They are cutting some of that out and getting more money from inside the US from what I understand.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

Reid has also said that the airline's focus will be on "long-haul point-to-point service between major metropolitan cities on the Eastern and West Coast seaboards" - San Fransisco Chronicle

Although CEO Fred Reid has said this, I think IND-LAS would be a good route for VA, and we could finally get some more capacity on that route. However, I doubt the CEO would listen to me.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

There base is at SFO. So I would think IND-SFO would be the more likely option.

But don't hold your breath. If Jetblue hasn't come here yet, I doubt Virgin would either. If they listed IND somewhere, it's probably because they needed the support of Dick Lugar or Evan Bayh or one of our US Reps.

Member

Joined: 16 Mar 2007
Posts: 28
Location: KDTW

By the way, in case anybody doesn't know, Virgin America's revised application was accepted.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Oh I did not know that.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I don't think we will see any new airlines enter the IND market anytime soon. There is not that much room if any. I think if any other airlines do decide to serve IND it will most likely be when the new terminal opens. Plus, i think by the time the new terminal opens, there will hopefully be more demand.

If an airline does start service at IND, i think JetBlue would be here before Virgin America. I would like to see Skybus here but considering Columbus is "close" i am not so sure. I would just like to see what this "sub-Southwest" service is like *lol*