Ownership issue plagues airline

Ownership issue plagues airline

Virgin America in legal battle again. Ownership problems have plagued Virgin in the past. The latest challenge comes from Alaska Airlines, who on Tuesday filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Transportation calling for an investigating on whether Virgin complies with a law requiring U.S. carriers to be made up of 75 percent domestic ownership. Virgin spokeswoman says that the company is a "U.S. owned and controlled airline that is in full compliance with the law and all Department of Transportation regulations". For people involved in luring Virgin America to the region, today's announcement comes as a disappointment. Dennis Conaghan, executive Director of the San Francisco Center for Economic Development, expressed this sentiment "I'm surprised these questions about financial backing are being brought up again, because they spent months vetting that whole topic". Along with providing jobs, the airline has helped strengthen the local economy by playing a vital role in marketing the City as a desirable destination, according to Joe D'Alessandro president of the SF Convention and Visitors Bureau.