Alaska Air Group has confirmed that as of January 11, 2018, its Virgin America (San Francisco) and Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) units have consolidated their operations onto a Single Operator's Certificate (SOC).
Alaska closed its purchase of Virgin America in December 2016. Since then, the firm has worked to align the two carriers' operating policies and procedures, which is part of the thorough regulatory requirements established by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to achieve an SOC.
"This is a big moment for our company," Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines' president and chief operating officer and CEO of Virgin America, said. "We're now recognized as one airline in the eyes of the FAA."
Other milestones reached as part of the merger process include the integration of the Virgin America loyalty program with Alaska Mileage Plan, as well as the transitioning to a single payroll and benefits program.
An additional milestone will be reached in March when an Airbus operations control centre will be co-located with one for Boeing aircraft at Alaska's Flight Operations Center in Seattle Tacoma International.
Virgin America currently operates ten A319-100s, fifty-three A320-200s, and four A321neo while Alaska Airlines operates one B737-400(F), eleven B737-700s, two B737-700(BDSF)s, sixty-one B737-800s, twelve B737-900s, and sixty-seven B737-900(ER)s. Alaska Airlines, together with Virgin America and its regional partners, serves more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States as well as to Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, and Cuba.
