Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah will use the COVID-19 crisis to reignite a push for the federal government to rein in fees at the country's major airports, saying their profit margins during similar emergencies "highlights the absurdity" of current regulations.

Australia's second-largest airline, which lost $89 million in the first half of the financial year, estimates the coronavirus will slash earnings by up to $75 million in the six months ending June 30.

Paul Scurrah wants the ACCC to regulate the fees airports charge airlines. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Mr Scurrah told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age he would ask Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham to reconsider a Productivity Commission review which last year concluded the nation's largest airports — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth — did not need stricter regulations to prevent price-gouging.

"The government has verbalised its intention to assist the tourism industry and there’s no better time to revisit the decision that [Productivity Commission] report," Mr Scurrah said.