Tell Congress and the DOT: No Way VA!

Virgin America, a foreign controlled and so-called new generation low-cost carrier, is again seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fly domestic routes in the United States.

No Way VAShould they succeed, Virgin America will use foreign investments to subsidize low-cost flights that will be in direct competition with your airline and threaten the job security of thousands of AFA-CWA members from coast to coast.

We need you to take action today to tell your elected leaders and the Department of Transportation to again deny Virgin America's application. Tell Me More...

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: RE: Virgin America

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm a flight attendant and proud member of the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA and I'm writing you about an urgent matter that is before the Department of Transportation.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) correctly denied an application by Virgin America, Inc. in December, 2006 for that airline to operate domestic flights in the United States.

The DOT ruled then that Virgin America was not owned and operated by U.S. citizens and the DOT rightfully protected long-standing U.S. aviation law.

However, Virgin America has submitted a modified application to the DOT and the agency may rule again soon. I believe that despite their efforts to amend their application that Virgin America will always fall under the control of foreign owners and investments and U.S. aviation laws will be trampled and America jobs will be at risk if the DOT approves their application.

Virgin America claims to be a new generation airline but is nothing more than a direct extension of the Virgin Group, which is owned and operated by foreign interests and brings nothing new to the market place. Virgin's business plan simply duplicates U.S. domestic routes between large cites that are currently served by a healthy mix of U.S. domestic low-fare airlines and large network carriers that offer point-to-point service and extensive international connections.

Should the DOT approve their application, Virgin America could displace thousands of good paying U.S. jobs and offer no real new service to U.S. consumers.

I urge you to send a message to Department of Transportation officials and demand that they uphold U.S. aviation laws, protect American jobs and deny Virgin America's application.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
February 23, 2007


Background Information

Virgin America, a foreign controlled and so-called new generation low-cost carrier, is again seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to fly domestic routes in the United States.

No Way VAShould they succeed, Virgin America will use foreign investments to subsidize low-cost flights that will be in direct competition with your airline and threaten the job security of thousands of AFA-CWA members from coast to coast.

We need you to take action today to tell your elected leaders and the Department of Transportation to again deny Virgin America's application.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) denied Virgin America's first application in December, 2006 ruling that Virgin America (VA) is not owned and operated by US citizens.  VA has submitted an amended application to the DOT in a veiled attempt to convince regulators that it now complies with US aviation law.

The DOT will soon rule on the new Virgin America application.

VA's cosmetic changes to their application can't hide the fact that Richard Branson and his foreign-owned Virgin Group will no doubt control Virgin America.  If the DOT gives flight to Virgin America, it could significantly weaken our strong foreign investment and control laws that protect U.S. aviation workers.

Virgin has since launched a public relations blitz to convince lawmakers and the flying public to support their new DOT application.  They have raised their voices, now it's time to raise ours.  We cannot allow for the DOT to just hear the Virgin America spin story. 

The DOT and your state and federal lawmakers must hear from you and your flying partners today that they must protect the laws that preserve American jobs and that U.S. airlines must be majority owned and financially controlled by U.S. citizens. 

If the DOT approves their application, VA will base flights out of SFO to major cities such as JFK, IAD and LAX initially and add service aggressively to 40 other major cities.  These are cities already served by a healthy mix of U.S. low-fare domestic carriers and U.S. major network carriers with significant international operations and which are staffed by thousands of professional AFA-CWA members.

The threat to our jobs is real and the time is now to take action.  Use the links provided in this AFA e-activist alert to tell the DOT to uphold our strong U.S. aviation laws and deny the Virgin America application.