Virgin America adding flights between Las Vegas and Los Angeles

By Richard N. Velotta

Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 | 4:22 p.m.

California-based Virgin America will become the sixth airline to offer nonstop flights to and from Las Vegas’ most popular air destination — Los Angeles International Airport — when it begins offering three daily flights in April.

Virgin America, which has an average of eight daily flights from McCarran International Airport to San Francisco and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, will add Los Angeles service April 22 using twin-engine, 119-passenger Airbus A319 jets.

Las Vegas was an inaugural destination when the airline started operations in 2007 with flights to and from San Francisco.

Virgin America plans to initiate the new service with $39 one-way fares, which don’t include additional fees and taxes and are subject to blackout dates. A midweek nonrefundable round trip could be purchased for $78. The company charges $25 per bag each way.

Flights will leave for Los Angeles at 1:20, 5:05 and 8:50 p.m., with return flights at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.

Virgin America is not directly affiliated with Virgin Atlantic, the airline that offers nonstop flights between London and Las Vegas, but it partners with Virgin-branded companies. Virgin Atlantic’s leading shareholder, Richard Branson, is an investor in Virgin America.

There are an average 32 flights a day between Las Vegas and Los Angeles International, and Virgin America will compete on the route with market leader Southwest Airlines and Delta, United, American and Spirit Airlines.