Tuesday March 20, 1:59 = U.S. Gov't Tentatively OKs Virgin Plan =0A=0A =0A=0ATuesday March 20, 1:59 = PM EDT =0A=0A=0AWASHINGTON (AP) =97 The Transportation Department on Tuesda= y removed a barrier to fledgling airline Virgin America's plans to start U.= S. operations, saying the company was "back on track" toward complying with= laws limiting foreign control of a domestic carrier. =0AThe agency gave a = tentative OK to a revised plan filed in January by Burlingame, Calif.-based= Virgin America, saying the revised plan "should meet U.S. ownership rules"= that cap foreign control of a U.S. airline at 25 percent. One required cha= nge is that Virgin America replace CEO Fred Reid. =0AIn December, the Trans= portation Department tentatively denied Virgin America's application to fly= , mainly because of its ties to British entrepreneur Richard Branson =97 th= e billionaire who came up with the idea for a new U.S. airline that would o= ffer travelers more comfort at a lower cost than the industry's long-establ= ished powers. Branson hired Reid. =0A=0ASeveral of the major U.S. airlines,= including AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Continen= tal Airlines Inc., have spearheaded the drive to prevent Virgin America fro= m flying. =0ARefusing to bow to the resistance, Virgin America in January a= long list of concessions to the Transportation Department to allay regulat= ors' concerns. Virgin America's proposed reforms included selling more stoc= k to U.S. investors, eliminating one of the three board seats awarded Brans= on's Virgin Group and, if necessary, firing Reid. =0A=97=97=97 =0Ahttp://ww= w.dot.gov <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".