Thunderstorms Mar Virgin America's Maiden Flights

Virgin America got an early taste of the challenges facing the US aviation industry yesterday as a thunderstorm wreaked havoc at New York's congested airports, delaying the carrier's inaugural flight.

The new domestic carrier's first service was due to take off from Kennedy airport at 9.59 am - but flight VX1 to San Francisco finally lifted off shortly before 11am.

Virgin America, where Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group controls a 25% stake, has ten Airbus jets. It is counting on quality of service to be a point of difference between Virgin America and the country's cash-strapped established airlines. Unfortunately for Sir Richard, the torrential downpour in New York flooded roads and subway lines, preventing several key figures from reaching the launch ceremony - including Virgin America's chief executive, Fred Reid, and the satirist Stephen Colbert, lined up as star guest.

The flight from New York was timed to arrive in San Francisco at the same time as the carrier's first flight from Los Angeles, creating a stage-managed scene with two Virgin America planes landing simultaneously on twin runways.

Virgin America has fought a two-year battle with regulators to get off the ground, making a series of amendments to its ownership structure to abide by strict US laws which limit foreign control of airlines.

Coast-to-coast fares start at $139 each way. Setting out an ambition of operating 100 planes, Sir Richard said: "We'd love to be able to fly to most major cities."