Virgin Atlantic to reduce number of flights by 80 per cent

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Due to coronavirus outbreak, Virgin Atlantic is planning to drastically reduce the number of flights it is operating.

By March 26 there will be 80 per cent reduction in the number of flights and around 75 per cent of its fleet will be parked which is expected to go up by 85 per cent in April.

Based on the customer demand the airline will be prioritizing its core routes based on the customer demand and it will be continuously reviewing.

Its  London Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey route with immediate effect would be terminated by the airline.

The airline is asking the staff to take eight weeks unpaid leave over the next three months due to the cuts announced however there will be no job losses.

Over six months the deductions to salaries from the unpaid leave will be spread.

Between six to 12 months it will offer voluntary redundancies and sabbaticals.

Until 2021 the pay increases will be paused and employer pension contribution will be reduced for a year and sick pay will be reduced to 12 weeks full pay.

Until the end of 2020 the airline’s CEO Shai Wess will be taking a 20 per cent pay cut while the executive leadership team will also take a pay of 15 per cent of the same period.

A spokesperson stated that the aviation industry is facing unprecedented pressure and they have appealed to the Government for clear, decisive and unwavering support.

To a value of £5-7.5bn the industry needs emergency credit facilities to bolster the confidence and to preebvent credit card processors from withholding customer payments.

For the full summer 2020 season they needed slot alleviation so that they can match supply to deamand- reducing costs and preventing unviable flying and corresponding carbon dioxide emissions.

Airlines including Virgin Atlantic through the support can weather the storm and emerge in a position to assist the nation’s economic recovery and provide the passenger and cargo connectivity that business and people across the country can rely on.

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