SAN FRANCISCO — Virgin America plans to serve Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) with daily flights from both Los Angeles and San Francsico as early as June 2010.

“Coming on the heels of the company’s new Department of Transportation-approved ownership structure, Virgin America is poised for major growth in 2010 – with six additional aircraft entering its fleet this year and three additional aircraft scheduled for the first quarter of 2011,” said the carrier.

By this time next year, the airline’s fleet will have grown by almost one-third.

“With strong financial performance, a new ownership structure and growth in fleet size, we’re pleased to be able to expand to world-class destinations like Orlando and Toronto this year,” said Virgin America president and CEO David Cush. “Both cities are major travel destinations from the West Coast, and we’re looking forward to introducing our service to travellers in these and other new markets in 2010 and beyond.”

Virgin America filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking authority to fly from the United States to Canada where it was approved and Toronto becomes the airline’s first international destination.
Virgin America plans one nonstop daily flight and one daily through flight from each West Coast city.

In addition to Orlando and Toronto, Virgin America intends to announce at least three more new destinations in 2010. The airline continues to see growing sales, a maturing route network and financial growth. For Virgin America’s most recently reported quarter (the third quarter of 2009), the airline reported its first quarterly operating profit, a year-over-year revenue increase of 38.3%, record load factors and improved unit costs.

Launched in August 2007, Virgin America offers low fares and in just over two years flying, the airline has captured the ‘Best Domestic Airline’ title in both Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards and Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.