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San Francisco – July 31, 2009 – Virgin America today announced the appointment of Ross J. Bonanno as the airline’s Vice President of Airports and Guest Care. With 30 years of industry experience, Bonanno will oversee Virgin America’s airport operations and lead the company’s award-winning guest care team.
Bonanno began his career as a baggage handler and moved on to hold senior leadership positions with US Airways, Eos Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sabre and American Airlines. Most recently, as Vice President of Customer Service at US Airways, Bonanno led a team of more than 6,500 employees and oversaw airport customer service for the airline’s Eastern Division, which encompassed 45 cities.
“The breadth and depth of Ross’ experience will be critically important as we continue to expand our operation and move from a start-up to a major carrier,” said David Cush, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virgin America. “As we grow, Ross’ expertise in building large operations and implementing new customer initiatives will help us continue to keep our focus on delivering an award-winning guest experience.”
Prior to US Airways, Bonanno served as Vice President of Service Operations at Eos Airlines, where he was responsible for the development of customer-facing areas of the new airline, including airport operations, in-flight service, reservations, catering, security, fueling and properties. Bonanno has also held director-level positions in Corporate Planning, Corporate Project Management/Security and Technology at Southwest Airlines. At American Airlines, Bonanno served in a number of leadership roles, including Managing Director for the airline’s Western Region.
Bonanno earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from St. Bonaventure University. He currently resides with his wife in Menlo Park, California.
Virgin America flies to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston and Orange County. The airline is one of the fastest growing of all time, with a new 28-aircraft Airbus A320-family fleet and over 100 daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD, SFO to SEA, SEA to LAX, JFK to LAS, BOS to LAX, BOS to SFO, and SFO to SNA. Virgin America has flown more than 4.5 million guests since its inaugural flights in August 2007.
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Media Contact: Abby Lunardini (650) 533-7576 / abby.lunardini@virginamerica.com
EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline and an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.
About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in August 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing start-up U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1400 people. Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline’s base of operations is San Francisco International Airport’s ultra-modern International Terminal. The airline’s new aircraft offer interactive in-flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat for electronic gear. Virgin America now offers in-flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in-flight entertainment library in the domestic skies via its touch-screen Red™ seatback system. In addition to a 25-film library including Oscar winners, foreign language films and Hollywood blockbusters, Red features live TV, videogames, seat-to-seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, music videos, interactive Google maps and more. In just over a year flying, Virgin America was named “Best Domestic Airline” in the Condé Nast Traveler 2008 Readers’ Choice Awards and “Best Domestic Airline” in Travel + Leisure 2008 World’s Best Awards. For more: www.virginamerica.com |