The airline, which is 51% owned by Richard Branson's group and 49% owned by US airline Delta, also reduced its flight schedule and will prioritise "core routes based on customer demand". "This change amounts (to an) approximately 80% reduction in flights per day by 26 March. "Owing to restrictions to international travel, the airline is reducing services to focus on core routes, depending on customer demand. (Image: Virgin Atlantic)The eight weeks' unpaid leave will have the cost spread over six months' salary in a move that it claims will "drastically reduce costs without job losses". Virgin has already asked for state aid in an effort to keep the business alive as travel bans and cancelled trips hit it hard.

Source: Daily Mirror March 16, 2020 12:46 UTC