RENEE MONTAGNE, host: A new airline encounters turbulence as it tries to enter the U.S. market.</s>RENEE MONTAGNE, host: Virgin America makes another attempt at takeoff today, after waiting more than a year for approval from U.S. transportation regulators. NPR's Jessica Smith has more.</s>JESSICA SMITH: Virgin America has nine planes on tarmacs around the country, but they're stuck there. U.S. transportation officials - lobbied by major U.S. airlines, including Delta and Continental - have rejected Virgin America's application to start offering discount flights in the U.S. market because of its links to the UK-based Virgin Group.</s>JESSICA SMITH: U.S. officials say Virgin America isn't, quote, "actually controlled by U.S. citizens." They've ordered the airline to revise its ownership structure to meet U.S. rules that limit non-U.S. citizens to a 25 percent stake and one-third aboard in management.</s>JESSICA SMITH: Today, Virgin America - which is based in San Francisco and headed by a former president of Delta - is filing its response. A company spokesman says the airline hopes to start ticketing passengers this spring.</s>JESSICA SMITH: Jessica Smith, NPR News.
The air carrier Virgin America, a subsidiary of Richard Branson's UK-based business empire, wants to offer discount fares in the U.S. The company is appealing a move by the Department of Transportation to block Virgin America's plan.