VIRGIN Atlantic has announced it will fly to 24 destinations in 2021 after the Government suggested this summer’s holidays will have to be cancelled.
The news comes after business magnate Sir Richard Branson sold ÂŁ405 million of shares in Virgin Galactic to keep the company afloat. Airlines are being heavily hit by the pandemic as countries implement travel restrictions in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus.
In a further hit to the aviation industry, the Government has said foreign travel this summer would be restricted, adding that travellers coming into the UK from abroad will have to undergo a 14-day self-isolation and tell border officials where this will be.
Sir Richard’s airline has released a string of new flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast from next summer – on sale from this Saturday.
Virgin Atlantic expects to “steadily increase” flights in the second half of this year, before a “further, gradual recovery” in 2021.
The Heathrow to Tel Aviv service will run twice per day.
It comes after last week the airline revealed it will not resume Gatwick flights, will decrease its staff board by 3,150 people, and will not be using its seven Boeing 747-400 aircraft, which have four engines.
Chief commercial officer Juha Jarvinen said: “As the Covid-19 crisis stabilises and demand gradually returns, we are looking forward to welcoming our customers back and flying them safely to their favourite destinations.
“We have taken the opportunity to pause, reflect and reshape our 2021 flying programme looking at efficiencies in our fleet and connectivity across our network, to ensure it is fit for the future, flying to the destinations we know our customers love to fly.
“We’re delighted that our popular Tel Aviv service, which launched in September 2019, will now increase to double daily, whilst regional flying from Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast will continue to play an important part in offering choice to customers and connecting UK travellers to Orlando, Barbados, Atlanta, New York and Los Angeles.”
On Monday, it was revealed that Sir Richard is selling a ÂŁ400 million stake in Virgin Galactic, his space exploration company to increase his ailing business.
Virgin Group said it would use the funds “to support its portfolio of global leisure, holiday and travel businesses that have been affected by the unprecedented impact of Covid-19”.
Mr Branson owns a 51 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic.
Virgin Atlantics sister airline Virgin Australia has gone bust.
Sir Richard has face backlashed after he applier for taxpayer support to bail out Virgin Atlantic.
He had hoped to obtain a ÂŁ500million government-backed loan for the company and was offered his luxury Caribbean retreat Necker Island up as security against the loan.
Critics have pointed at the fact that Sir Richard, despite being one of the richest people in the UK, has not paid personal tax in the country for 14 years after moving to British Virgin Islands, a tax haven.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak wrote to airlines and airports in March to let them know that the taxpayers money would only be used “as a last resort”.
Private equity firm Greybull Capital, which oversaw the bankruptcy of airline Monarch and British Steel, could be a potential investor, as well as Apollo Global Management.
Sir Richards Virgin Group owns stakes in a broad catalogue of businesses, including Virgin Wines and Virgin Money.
Mondays announcement means Sir Richards ownership in the space exploration firm will fall below 43 percent.
He will also have to give up one of Virgin Group’s three seats on the eight-strong panel.
Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 and had initially suggested it would send tourist flights into space by 2009.
