Virgin America Part 2: Is now the time to solidify its strategy and go public?

Virgin America's breather in growth, underpinned by cutting and deferring some aircraft deliveries, has allowed the nearly seven-year old airline to reach what once seemed unattainable - its first annual profit.

The airline's profitability was supported by consecutive positive net income from 2Q2013 through 4Q2013, and the favourable results have bolstered comments by Virgin America's executives that the carrier could undertake an initial public offering in 2H2014.

It is certainly debatable whether Virgin America's recent string of profitability is reassuring enough for potential investors; but while the company was making moves to change its financial fortunes Virgin America was also attempting to make other changes to possibly sustain a niche that has been floundering over the past few years.