Virgin Atlantic set to cut 1,200 jobs after US tragedy

By Louise Longman

VIRGIN Atlantic is set to cut 1,200 jobs through voluntary redundancies in the aftermath of the US disaster last week.

A Virgin spokeswoman said the airline is expecting a 60% drop-off in demand. The carrier has also grounded five of its Boeing 747 aircraft.

“We will be cutting back on transatlantic capacity in October, by around 20%. However, we will increase capacity to Hong Kong and Johannesburg to meet demand.”

The redundancies will cover all disciplines within the airline, from pilots to cabin crew.

Meanwhile British Airways is set to announce massive job cuts following its immediate freeze on recruitment and a strict ban on non-essential expenditure.

But bosses have refused to comment on reports suggesting it will axe up to 6,000 posts as early as this week. The moves by the British carriers follow the redundancies of 12,000 workers at Continental Airlines in anticipation of a slump in air travel following last week's events.