Også Virgin Atlantic forlater Gatwick - BBC

Coronavirus: Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick

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• Coronavirus pandemic

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Image captionVirgin Atlantic has seen passenger numbers slump as countries close borders and enact travel bans

Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut more than 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.

The shock announcement comes after rival British Airways said it could not rule out closing its Gatwick operation. Pilots' union Balpa described it as "devastating".

Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.

The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people.

Virgin Atlantic, which is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the government, said that jobs will be lost across the board.

"We have weathered many storms since our first flight 36 years ago but none has been as devastating as Covid-19 and the associated loss of life and livelihood for so many," said Virgin Atlantic chief executive Shai Weiss.