Virgin America is going away, here's when it will become Alaska Air

Virgin America will soon be gone. According to an internal memo obtained by Flight Global, Virgin America will cease to exist on April 25, 2018.

In December 2016, Alaska Airlines completed the acquisition of the boutique carrier for $2.6 billion.

However, it is believed the total value of the deal, including Virgin's debt and aircraft-leasing obligations, could reach $4 billion.

According to the memo, starting on April 25, all customers trying to book flights on Virgin America will be directed to Alaska Air's booking system. In addition, Virgin's all-Airbus fleet with be combined with Alaska's all-Boeing fleet in a single inventory of flights.

Alaska Airlines was not immediately available for comment.

Even though the San Francisco-based outpost of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin empire was only around for a decade, it achieved quite a bit in its time. Until Delta's recent renaissance, VA was consistently rated America's best airline.

Together, the newly merged Alaska/Virgin America is America's 5th largest airline behind American, Delta, United, and Southwest.