Virgin America is about to take its final flight./ Photo / AP
Virgin America is about to take its final flight./ Photo / AP
It's one of the world's most-loved airlines but it's about to vanish forever.
Consistently credited as being one of the US's favourite airlines, Virgin America is set to take its final flight today before it is taken over by Alaska Air as part of a US$2.6 billion ($3.6b) deal.
Thetwo final flights will be Virgin America Flight 1182 which is scheduled to depart San Francisco at 9.30pm, and Virgin America Flight 1948 is due to fly to Los Angeles at 9.32pm local time.
"We're planning to delight our guests flying on these last two flights with a few surprises," Alaska Airlines said. It's believed a special in-flight safety video performance will be among them.
Diehard fans of the airline are also planning their own celebrations.
"We'll be having a get-together in the gate area before the flight," frequent flyer Nate Vallier, who owns an airline IT company, told USA Today.
"We'll have posters, memorabilia and other swag to hand out and, after the flight, we'll be gathering in the Alaska Airlines lounge in LAX to toast to the sunset of the Virgin America brand."
By morning, all check-in counters, kiosks, signs and gate areas branded as Virgin America will vanish from 29 airports around the US and Mexico. The livery and planes will go at a later date.
