Virgin American appoints C. David Cush as CEO

Virgin America has chosen former American Airlines Global Sales Vice-President David Cush to succeed Fred Reid as Chief Executive of the low-cost start-up carrier.

Cush will take over from Reid on December 10. Reid was required to leave the company under the terms of the airline's certification by the Department of Transportation.

In his role as Senior Vice President of Global Sales at American, Cush was responsible for all sales and distribution activities worldwide.

Over the course of his career, Cush has held key leadership roles overseeing all aspects of the airline business including finance, sales and marketing, customer service and operations. In addition to 20 years with American, Cush served as Chief Operating Officer of Aerolineas Argentinas, the national carrier of Argentina.

Reid, who helped start Virgin America last August, must leave the airline by February 2008 as a condition of the airline's certification by the Department of Transportation. The DOT determined that Reid might be beholden to foreigners -- a violation of U.S. law -- because he was hired by British billionaire Richard Branson. Branson conceived of Virgin America, is part owner and hired Reid in 2004.

As the only California-based airline, Virgin America will serve as many as 10 cities within its first year of operation and up to 30 cities within five years.