Virgin America reported a full-year 2011 net loss of $100.4 million,

larger than its $68.7 million loss in 2010. The privately held carrier cited "high fuel costs and the costs of growth." Full-year revenues jumped by 43 percent, pushing Virgin America above the $1 billion threshold to meet the U.S. Department of Transportation's definition of "major" carrier. However, Virgin America likely won't be characterized as such until next year, as DOT "recalculates air carrier groupings in the fall based on operating revenue numbers for the four quarters ending in June," according to a DOT spokesman. "If a carrier reports more than $1 billion in operating revenue and the numbers demonstrate sustainability over a period of time, it will be classified as a Group III major carrier, beginning January 2013." DOT requires major carriers to report "monthly on-time performance, baggage handling and other operational statistics," though Virgin America says it already does so voluntarily.