It looks like billionaire Richard Branson's celebration will have to wait. His Virgin America Airline debut on Wednesday, however, the first flight was delay due to bad weather New York.

The delay was a timely reminder for the new airline - which offers leather seats, mood lighting, entertainment systems, first-class seating and low fares on point-to-point flights - that the U.S. domestic market is fraught with difficulties.

"The American airline industry is abysmal," Virgin Group founder Branson said at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport before passengers boarded the first flight. "The reason they go bust is they don't offer any service to the customer."

U.S. carriers such as Delta Air Lines Inc. and northwest airlines Corp. have only just emerged from lengthy restructurings in bankruptcy as they cut costs to deal with higher fuel prices and tougher competition.

Unfortunately for Branson, Virgin America's first flight to San Francisco missed its departure time after a downpour hit New York, flooding subways and stopping traffic.

"What a strange day," said Branson. "I think half our guests haven't made it to the airport."

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