Virgin America Part 1: A quality airline finally becomes profitable but protectionism still prevails

Nearly seven years after its first flight, Virgin America reached a milestone when it recorded it first-ever annual profit in 2013. It's been a hard-fought victory for a carrier that was nearly grounded before it launched operations, has been dogged by poor financial performance and seen its strategy constantly questioned and scrutinised.

No one would have blamed Richard Branson had he chosen to abandon his long-held ambition to create a US-based carrier bearing the Virgin namesake. Fiercely protectionist opposition to his plans was instantaneous when Sir Richard and his advisors began laying the foundation for Virgin America nearly a decade ago.

The ensuing events illustrated starkly the still-widespread opposition to foreign ownership of US airlines. Many of the outdated beliefs exhibited in the US market place both at Virgin America's launch and in the present day show no signs of abating. (Australia">Virgin Australia by way of contrast, was supported by government policy and majority foreign owned and has trebled its (local) staff numbers in the past decade.)