Virgin Atlantic to cut 80% of flights due to coronavirus

The cuts come as travel bans have been implemented around the world

Virgin Atlantic is planning to drastically reduce the number of flights it's operating due to coronavirus.

The airline said that by 26 March, it will see an 80 per cent reduction on the number of flights.

Around 75 per cent of its fleet will be parked by 26 March, and this will go up to 85 per cent in April.

The airline said that it will be prioritising its core routes based on customer demand, which it will be continuously reviewing.

However, the airline said it would be terminating its London Heathrow to Newark, New Jersey, route with immediate effect.

Due to the cuts it has announced, the airline is asking staff to take eight weeks unpaid leave over the next three months, but there will be no job losses. Deductions to salaries from the unpaid leave will be spread over six months.

In addition, it will offer voluntary redundancies and sabbaticals of between six to 12 months. Pay increases will be paused until 2021, employer pension contribution will be reduced for a year and sick pay will be reduced to 12 weeks full pay.

The airline's CEO Shai Weiss will be taking a 20 per cent pay cut until the end of 2020 with the executive leadership team also taking a pay pay of 15 per cent for the same period.

A spokesperson for the airline said: "The aviation industry is facing unprecedented pressure. We are appealing to the Government for clear, decisive and unwavering support.

"Our industry needs emergency credit facilities to a value of £5-7.5bn, to bolster confidence and to prevent credit card processors from withholding customer payments. We also need slot alleviation for the full summer 2020 season, so we can match supply to demand – reducing costs and preventing unviable flying and corresponding CO2 emissions.

"With this support, airlines including Virgin Atlantic, can weather this 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 rely on."

Virgin's announcement comes as Ryanair has announced that it could ground its entire fleet due to the cuts from coronavirus.

And airlines around the world have rallied together to call on support from governments and stakeholders.