Snarled traffic delays Stephen Colbert from Air Colbert’s first flight with Virgin America

I’m betting Virgin America wants to put “Weather” On Notice now. Not the most auspicious start to the Air Colbert schedule. From Engadget:

Virgin America’s inaugural flight
Posted Aug 8th 2007 9:22AM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Transportation, Features

We’re at JFK airport right now, for the inaugural flight of Virgin America from New York to San Francisco, and Sir Richard Branson just stepped on stage.

9:27AM: “I don’t know who organized the weather today!” New York got nailed by some horrible weather this morning, and we’re running about an hour late. Stephen Colbert, who the plane is named after and is supposed to be christening the plane this morning, is stuck in traffic, along with a few other main figures. We’re going to carry on all the same. Sir Richard mentions how hard this has been to get off the ground, but it’s finally happening. “It’s time Americans get the airline they deserve, it’s been much too long.” Applause.

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Bummer about the weather. Still, with that logo on the nose, that’s one good-lookin’ plane!

Edit: Jaunted.com, a pop culture travel blog, also verifies the Colbert’s traffic woes:

Virgin America’s first flight from JFK to SFO, and the accompanying ceremony featuring Stephen Colbert, doesn’t look like it will go off on time, thanks in large part to New York area thunderstorms, Van Wyck, and tornado warnings — no joke.