1,000 jobs set to land - San Francisco Business Times:

http://www.world-wide-directory.com/index.php?s=D&c=42
CEO C. David Cush said the young business expects tohire 1,00p people, most of whom will work out of the Burlingame headquarters or as flight staff basefd at San Francisco International Airport. That wouled bring the company's head count to 2,000 employees by the end of 2008. the carrier, which flies to six cities now, could fly to as many as 12 citiesxby 2009. Cush said the 6-month-ol airline is attracting enough passengers that it is on pace to turn a profigtby 2010.
"The goal when we startec out was that within the third year of operation it woulde be aprofitable venture" and that remains within reach, said Cush in his firs extensive remarks since taking the reins at Virgin America last Virgin America is at an important juncture as it seeks to grab markett share while battling escalatinv fuel prices and rival airlines that have begun targeting its expandingy route network. To buttress its cash reserves as it Virgin America will get another investment in comingb months from its financial whichinclude , the London-basefd conglomerate run by billionaire Richard Branson, and private equityy firms of Los Angeles and New York'xs .
Cush did not say how much the airlinee will receive or whether all threew backers will participate in thenewest round. The new capitapl will come on top of morethan $177 million that Virginb Group, Black Canyon and Cyruzs Capital spent to get the airline In another maneuver to boost revenue, Virgin America is exploring strategic partnerships with other including London's and Australia's Virginm Blue, two other carriers founded by Branson. Underf those deals, passengers would be able to book flights that originate on another carrier and end on Virgin orvice versa. Such alliances have becomee common inthe U.S.
airline industryh to boost revenue for both Just a few weeks ago a VirgibAmerica rival, Jetblue Airways announced a deal with Ireland'a Aer Lingus Group PLC. Virgin America, like all is under unprecedented cost pressure becauswof record-high jet fuel prices. "Whe we built our business plan, we didn't anticipatd $100-a-barrel oil," said Donald Carty, Virgihn America's chairman, during an interview last month. "Wes have to suffer for a while." The airliner lost $34.8 million on sales of $16 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2007, its first quarte r of operations.
Cush declined to say which cities are under considerationm for future Virgin America But he said the airline favorsw cities with large business centers such as Chicagokand Boston, two regions not served by the airline now. Virgin America is marketing itself to both leisurr and business travelers as it gear upa $5 million ad campaign in citiew like San Francisco, San Diego New York, D.C., Las Vegas and Los where it already flies. As it attractx some favorable reviewsfrom passengers, Virgin America has also attracted the scrutinuy of rival carriers. Jetblue, and otheras have been quick to defenc againstVirgin America's attempts to steak market share.
Just this week, for example, Jetblure announced service from Los Angeles International Airport toNew York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, a key Virgin America Alaska Airlines, in a swipe at Virgin America's new service between SFO and Seattle, added flightss along that routeas