Richard Branson helps Virgin America launch flights to Hawaii

Virgin America (San Francisco) yesterday (November 2) celebrated the launch of new daily nonstop flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) with a series of festive events in San Francisco and Honolulu.

On December 3, the airline’s Hawai’i schedule grows again with daily nonstop flights from SFO to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG).

Virgin America will fly to Hawai’i with its newest Airbus A320 aircraft, equipped with fuel-saving ‘sharklet’ wingtip devices. Earlier this year, the airline completed the Federal Aviation Administration’s Extended Operation certification in order to operate longer range overwater flights. The first of Virgin America’s aircraft to fly to Hawai’i was named “Pineapple Express” (above) by the airline’s teammates and features a surfer girl image created by street/tattoo artist Si Scott.