COVID-19: Virgin Australia to cut capacity by 25%

Virgin Australia said on Monday it would reduce capacity across its network by around 25% for the rest of January and for February.

This the airline said is due to reduced travel demand and staff being required to isolate as COVID-19 case numbers rise in Australia.

The airline, which competes against Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX), said it would cut some flight frequencies and suspend 10 routes temporarily.

Australia on Monday surpassed 1 million COVID-19 cases, with more than half of them recorded in the past week, as the Omicron variant ripped through most of the country driving up hospitalisation numbers and putting a strain on supply chains.

Virgin Australia Chief Executive Jayne Hrdlicka said the surge in COVID-19 cases had affected customer confidence.

“Virgin Australia remains focused on growing its network and consumer reach and will resume services as soon travel demand improves,” she said in a statement.

The airline said in November it would add seven more Boeing Co (BA.N) 737 NG planes to its fleet, nearly restoring it to pre-pandemic levels, to help meet a goal of obtaining a one-third share of Australia’s domestic travel market.