SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 29, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin America, San Francisco's hometown airline and the Official Airline of SF Pride, today unveils a "Boogie Flights" float with over one hundred teammates in tow at the world-famous SF Pride Parade and Celebration.
Virgin America's teammates, along with a team of professional roller skaters, will get the crowd along the parade route grooving from on-board Virgin America's first-of-its-kind roller-disco themed float, equipped with a "Sky Bridge," signature Virgin tailfins and plenty of star power.
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"As San Francisco's only hometown airline, we're honored to be a part of a celebration that has defined and enriched this community for 38 years," said Porter Gale Virgin America's Vice President of Marketing. "Virgin America is bringing the best of San Francisco to the skies, from the most advanced on-board entertainment and technology to cutting-edge design and innovative, fun and friendly teammates. San Francisco has inspired us and supported us from the very start, and we're here today to celebrate an event that embodies the creative, diverse and vibrant spirit of our amazing hometown."
Virgin America's "Boogie Flights" float will take to the parade route hosted by celebrity guests Lynn and Alex of The Insider, Adam Carolla Show and The Amazing Race fame, as well as San Francisco's DJ Rolo, plus local legends -- the roller skaters from the California Outdoor Rollersports Association (C.O.R.A). In addition to the float, Virgin America will have an Exhibit Booth at Civic Center (open from 12 noon) where SF Pride celebrants can register to win Virgin America gear and learn more about the airline that is reinventing domestic travel and making flying good again.
"We are thrilled that Virgin America has made San Francisco its home and are excited that it is embracing our community's largest event and the country's biggest LGBT event," said Lindsey Jones, SF LGBT Pride Executive Director.
At 5:00 pm at Virgin America's booth, the airline will also host a "Funky Fabulous Flight Attendant" costume showdown, inviting SF Pride partygoers to test their fashion mettle in a competition for the most fabulously original flight attendant costume. The lucky winner will win two roundtrip tickets anywhere Virgin America flies.
As part of Virgin America's sponsorship of the event, SF Pride's celebrity guests, like Crystal Waters, have been kicking off their journeys to San Francisco in fabulous style on board Virgin America's planes, which feature nightclub-like mood lighting, custom-designed leather seats and the most advanced in-flight entertainment system in the U.S. To further celebrate SF Pride and to recognize the partnership between Virgin America and the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee, Virgin America named one of their planes, an Airbus A320, "San Francisco Pride."
Virgin America currently flies to seven cities, with daily flights from: SFO to LAX, SFO to JFK, SFO to SAN, SFO to IAD, SFO to LAS, SFO to SEA, LAX to JFK, LAX to IAD and LAX to SEA.
About San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee (SFLGBTPCC):
The San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration Committee (www.sfpride.org) is a not-for-profit membership organization founded to produce the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration & Parade. With its office located at the San Francisco LGBT Community Center, SFLGBTPCC is dedicated to education, commemoration of LGBT heritage and celebration of LGBT culture and liberation. A world leader in the Pride Movement, SFLGBTPCC is also a grant-giving organization through its Community Partners Program. Since 1997, SFLGBTPCC has granted over $1 million dollars from proceeds of the Pride Celebration and Parade to local not-for-profit LGBT organizations and those organizations serving the HIV/AIDS and breast cancer communities.
About San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration & Parade:
This year marks the 38th anniversary of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade. This year's theme is "Pride Not Prejudice" and the event will be held over the weekend of June 28 and 29, 2008. With over 200 parade contingents, 300 exhibitors, and 18 entertainment stages and venues, San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration and Parade is the largest LGBT event in the nation. For more information please visit our website at: www.sfpride.org
About Virgin America:
Virgin America launched service in August 2007 from its base of operations at San Francisco International Airport's ultra-modern International Terminal. The airline has 1400 employees. The airline's brand new fleet of Airbus A320-family aircraft offers guests interactive in-flight entertainment systems, power outlets for laptops or other electronic gear and a host of other innovative features aimed at making flying good again. In Zagat's 2007 Global Airlines Survey of frequent fliers, the airline was ranked No. 1 among U.S. carriers for quality in First/Business Class and No. 2 for quality in Main Cabin. To learn more: www.virginamerica.com
Editor's Note: Virgin America is a U.S. controlled and operated airline and an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.
The Virgin America logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2371
The photos are also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
