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Virgin Australia has cut 90% of its domestic capacity and stood down at least 8,000 people as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the aviation sector.<\/p>\nVirgin Australia has cut 90% of its domestic capacity and stood down at least 8,000 people as the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the aviation sector.<\/p>\n
The company, which also owns budget carrier Tigerair Australia and is one of two major domestic providers, said in a statement that it was grounding 125 planes from Friday and 80% of its 10,000-strong workforce had been asked to take leave without pay.<\/p>\n
It added that all Tigerair flights would be suspended \u201ceffective immediately\u201d as part of the measures it expects to continue until at least the middle of June.<\/p>\n
Virgin Australia managing director Paul Scurrah said his company had been force to take \u201cextraordinary steps\u201d in response to the latest official directions, which include the closures of state borders.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now facing what will be the biggest grounding of aircraft in this country\u2019s history,\u201d Mr Scurrah added.<\/p>\n
The firm had previously imposed measures including closing its domestic airport lounges and suspending international flights from Monday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Qantas shares soared as much as 31.27% in early trade on Tuesday after the company refinanced with 1.05 billion Australian dollars (\u00a3531 million) in loans.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month the company was forced to reduce capacity by almost a quarter due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The airline said that a \u201csudden and significant drop\u201d in demand meant it had to reduce the frequency of flights and the size of aircraft.<\/p>\n
The cutbacks saw 38 aircraft grounded, services to London re-routed around Singapore and staff asked to take annual and unpaid leave.<\/p>\n
Early on Tuesday Qantas shares were trading 20.85% higher for the day at 3.13 Australian dollars (\u00a31.58).<\/p>\n
It came as the carrier prepared to operate the first non-stop flight from Darwin to Heathrow as travelers struggle to return to the UK.<\/p>\n
Its flagship Sydney to London service usually flies via Singapore but, due to travel restrictions on international journeys, the airline has been forced to find an alternative route.<\/p>\n
The temporary route will only operate this week, before Qantas suspends all international flights until May 31 at the earliest.<\/p>\n