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In a move that will be a boost to travelers benefitting from cheaper air fares and a headache to discount airlines like JetBlue Airways Corp. and Southwest Airlines Co. who are going to face more competition, newcomer Virgin America Inc. began selling tickets Thursday in preparation for starting service next month from San Francisco to Kennedy Airport.

San Francisco-based Virgin America, the low-fare airline partly owned by United Kingdom billionaire Richard Branson, said it plans to begin flying Aug. 8 from San Francisco to Kennedy, charging an introductory one-way fare of $139. Service to Las Vegas and Dulles Airport in suburban Virginia are to be added in the next two months, Virgin said.

Maverick airline Virgin America plans to begin selling tickets Thursday, giving travelers their first chance to book a trip on planes equipped to pamper passengers even when they aren’t flying first-class.

The airline’s inaugural flights are scheduled to take off Aug. 8 from Los Angeles and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and arrive at roughly the same time late that morning in San Francisco, which will serve as Virgin America’s hub.

source: MSNBC