Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and stop flights from Gatwick Airport

The airline also confirmed it will not restart flights from Gatwick airport in West Sussex after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

Virgin Atlantic currently employs 10,000 staff in the UK, so the it is cutting almost a third of its workforce in this country.

Chief executive Shai Weiss said the carrier must take steps to ‘reduce our costs, preserve cash and to protect as many jobs as possible’.

The airline said talks with the Government about obtaining additional funding during the coronavirus lockdown ‘are ongoing’.

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Founder Sir Richard Branson recently warned the carrier will collapse unless it receives Government support.

Rival airline British Airways announced last week it plans to cut 12,000 jobs.

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