Virgin Atlantic has confirmed it will not restart flights
until at least August due to the UK government’s plan to impose a 14-day
quarantine period on international arrivals from next month to prevent imported
cases of Covid-19.
The British carrier had been planning to resume some
services as early as July, but it now says home secretary Priti Patel’s
announcement of the self-isolation period for all incoming travellers, which
goes into effect on 8 June, will stop it from returning to the skies any sooner
than August.
Virgin Atlantic told Business Traveller it supports IATA’s
proposal of a multi-layered approach to safely allow airlines to begin
operations, adding that quarantine measures will hamper passenger demand until
they are lifted.
The comments echo those of International Airlines Group CEO
Willie Walsh, who told MPs on the Transport Select Committee earlier this month
that airlines such as British Airways would have to review their plans to
restart flights if the face of quarantine restrictions.
Virgin Atlantic has furloughed a large portion of its staff
under the UK government’s coronavirus job retention scheme but said it would
have to make more than 3,000 employees redundant and cease operations at
Gatwick as part of a restructuring plan. Virgin Group founder Sir Richard
Branson is trying to raise US$500 million for the carrier and Virgin Holidays
through the sale of shares in Virgin Galactic after failing to negotiate a £500
million loan under the UK government’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility.