Published on Monday, March 16, 2020



Virgin permanently scraps Heathrow-Newark route





Virgin Atlantic has scrapped its London Heathrow-Newark route with immediate effect.



It said the route will be permanently terminated as its announced other temporary cuts to its services.

Virgin has reduced its flight schedule by 80% in March and April and said it will prioritise 'core routes based on customer demand.'

"Owing to restrictions to international travel, the airline is reducing services to focus on core routes, depending on customer demand. This will be subject to constant review as the situation evolves."

The airline has told staff to take two of the next three months off unpaid in a move that it hopes will avoid job losses.

In a statement, its said: "This change amounts (to an) approximately 80% reduction in flights per day by 26 March. As a direct consequence we will be parking approximately 75% of our fleet by 26 March and at points in April will go up to 85%.Earlier this month, Virgin said its top execs would take temporary pay cuts as part of a raft of measures during the downturn.Today the airline said chief executive Shai Weiss has extended his 20% pay cut to the end of the year and other senior execs have also extended their 15% pay cuts for the same amount of time.It is asking the UK Government to ask for a £7.4 billion bailout to keep the aviation industry going.