Virgin Atlantic Airline Reportedly Planning to Cut Around 3,000 Jobs

Late last month, media reported that 69-year-old British billionaire Richard Branson was seeking a buyer for Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. after the airline was grounded indefinitely amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

According to Sky News, Virgin Atlantic is planning to cut up yo 3,000 which is one-third of its workforce and stop using London's Gatwick Airport in a move to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

The company reportedly notified trade unions and stuff earlier on Tuesday.

Besides possible job cuts, the company is planning to retire seven of its Boeing 747s, reducing the total number from 43 to 36.

The changes follow a week of job losses in Britain's aviation industry. In late-April, British Airways sent a letter to unions, saying that it was planning to cut 1,130 out of 4,346 pilot jobs in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of national lockdowns, airlines have witnessed the biggest ever drop in passenger demand caused by the restrictions imposed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Domestic and international travel has been halted due to the epidemiological situation, which has left most airlines in dire straits.