MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2016: VIRGIN AMERICA TO LAUNCH CYBERMONDAY #TINYDOGSTINYFARES DEAL AND 'OPERATION CHIHUAHUA' AIRLIFT

Virgin America, San Francisco Animal Care & Control, the ASPCA® and Animal Haven Team Up for a Cross-Country Chihuahua Airlift to Fly Tiny Dogs in Style to New York Area for the Holidays – Where Loving Homes Await

Virgin America will Donate $10 for Every Flight Booked* on CyberMonday to Shelter Partners

What:   Virgin America is assisting the City of San Francisco Animal Care & Control (SF ACC) by flying Chihuahua pups in need of homes from San Francisco to the New York area. The overpopulation of Chihuahuas in California continues to force animal shelters on the West Coast to look to shelters on the East Coast for help – where the tiny dogs are in demand. As the only San Francisco-based airline, Virgin America first teamed up with the SF ACC to fly needy pups to new homes on the East Coast in 2010 to help address the influx of dogs at shelters on the West Coast. As part of its long-standing partnership with and commitment to SF ACC, Virgin America is undertaking its seventh Operation Chihuahua airlift. 

This year, Virgin America's Operation Chihuahua Airlift will launch on CyberMonday – and travelers can help fund future flights and animal welfare efforts by scoring some of the airline's best fare deals of the year.   On November 28, visitors to www.virginamerica.com will be able to book some of the best fare deals of the year –and $10 from every booking on CyberMonday will be donated* to the airline's shelter partners: SF ACC, ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and Animal Haven shelters. The more tiny fares booked on CyberMonday, the more tiny dogs can "get their wings."

On Monday, the airline will host a special red carpet send-off at the departure gate at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for dozens of tiny Chihuahuas before they begin their journey in style onboard Virgin America's beautifully-designed aircraft. The Chihuahuas will be received at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) by the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and Animal Haven shelters – where the dogs will have a better chance at being adopted.

Virgin America teammate volunteers will escort the Chihuahuas on the flight to the East Coast on November 28 and will track their journey with real-time, in-flight updates at http://instagram.com/virginamerica and www.twitter.com/virginamerica via the airline's fleetwide WiFi service. While these lucky Chihuahuas are heading east to find safe and loving homes, the SF ACC would like to remind Bay Area residents to visit their local shelters where there are many animals available for adoption.

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline and is an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.

ABOUT VIRGIN AMERICA

Known for its mood-lit cabins, three beautifully designed classes of service and innovative fleetwide amenities — like touch-screen personal entertainment, WiFi and power outlets at every seat, Virgin America has built a loyal following of flyers and earned a host of awards since launching in 2007 — including being named both the "Best U.S. Airline" in Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards for the past nine consecutive years.  For more: www.virginamerica.com.

ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

The Department of Animal Care & Control is a taxpayer-funded open-admission animal shelter.  Animal Care & Control provides housing, care and medical treatment to wild, exotic and domestic stray, lost, abandoned sick, injured and/or surrendered animals. Animal Care & Control aims to adopt, rehome or reunite domestic animals with their guardians and to rehabilitate and release wildlife to their native habitat.  Animal Care & Control responds to animal related emergencies, including animal abuse and neglect, as well as matters of public safety. Animal Care & Control is located at 1200 15^th St. (at Harrison.) www.sfanimalcare.org.

About the ASPCA^®

Founded in 1866 and celebrating its 150^th anniversary this year, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ABOUT ANIMAL HAVEN

Animal Haven is a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abandoned cats and dogs throughout the Tri-State area, and provides behavior intervention when needed to improve chances of adoption.  Founded in 1967, we operate an animal shelter in Manhattan. We also provide programs that enhance the bond between animals and people.  

*Donation Terms: Virgin America will donate $10 for each ticket sold during the "Cyber Monday Deal," up to a maximum donation of $50,000 cash plus $25,000 value in-kind tickets for future airlifts to our Operation Chihuahua partners: San Francisco Animal Care and Control, ASPCA® and Animal Haven. 

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161126/443024
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090123/VIRGINAMERICALOGO

/PRNewswire/ -- Nov. 26, 2016/

SOURCE Virgin America