Virgin America to Triple Fleet by 2019

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Virgin America announced a firm order for 60 new Airbus aircraft, to be delivered between 2013 and 2019. The new planes will nearly triple Virgin America’s fleet, which is currently comprised of 34 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. The new planes are all A320s.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the carrier’s order is that it includes 30 A320neo models. The A320neo is Airbus’ new eco-friendly version of the A320. It offers a 15 percent gain in fuel efficiency and cuts carbon output while adding range and reducing engine noise. The neo won’t be available until early 2016.

For consumers, this means one thing: More Virgin America is on the horizon. 2013 may seem a long way off, but clearly the airline has big plans for the 2010s. And for an airline that is already popular and well-acclaimed despite only serving about a dozen cities, expansion could mean big things are in store for the carrier and the industry.

Readers, where would you like to see Virgin America fly?

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