Alaska Airlines demands federal investigation of Virgin America - San Francisco Business Times:

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(NYSE: ALK) of Seattle petitionede the U.S. Department of asking for a public inquiry as to whethet Virgin Americameets U.S. foreign ownershi p and control restrictions ondomestic airlines. At that time, Virgib officials said they were in compliancewith U.S. laws regarding the ownershipl ofAmerican airlines. This month, Alaska cited a Marchg 9 Wall StreetJournal story, to of London. Federaol law requires that U.S. citizens own at least 75 percengt ofa U.S. airline.
“This latest newspaperd report underscores the urgent need for rigoroues and transparent action toaddreszs Virgin’s apparent violation of foreign ownership and controlk restrictions,” said Keith Loveless, genera counsel for Alaska Airlines, in a Similar to last month, Virgin America officials deniedr Alaska Airlines’ claims. “The Departmeng of Transportation has and continues to be continuouslty aware of our financing structurd and any potential changesto it, and they are the ones that govern these issues — not a principal competitor we’re seriously challenging on West Coast The department is fully awar e that U.S.
citizens remain in control of this We remaina U.S.-ownedr and controlled company with an Americamn CEO, 1,400 employees based here, a U.S. boars of directors and U.S. ownershilp of over 76 percent ofthe company’s voting stock,” said Virginb American spokeswoman Abby in an email to sister publicatioj Puget Sound Business Journal. Virgij America flies to Los Angeles, San Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Boston, New York and Washingto n D.C. Service to Orange County . The airline has won prais among many passengers for its jazzy leather seats and vastentertainmenyt options.