Virgin Atlantic has announced plans to cut 3,150 jobs at the airline amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the British airline also said it would keep its operation at Gatwick airport closed in response to the disruption unleashed by the crisis.
Virgin Atlantic has been headquartered at Gatwick for the past 35 years.
It pinned the moves on uncertainty over when flying will resume as well as “unprecedented market conditions” as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak which had “severely reduced revenues”.
Chief executive Shai Weiss said: “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.
“However, to safeguard our future and emerge a sustainably profitable business, now is the time for further action to reduce our costs, preserve cash and to protect as many jobs as possible.
“It is crucial that we return to profitability in 2021."
The airline, which currently employs about 10,000 people, is engaged in the process of applying for emergency loans from the Government.
Commenting on the developments, the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) pointed to the "dire situation facing UK aviation".
"Without immediate action by the Government we will see the once world leading industry decimated and that will have an effect throughout the UK economy and to all the other industries that rely on aviation," the union said in a statement.
"Virgin for example applied for Government support weeks ago and Treasury is still prevaricating."
BALPA General Secretary Brian Strutton added: "Why is the Government sitting on its hands while aviation plunges further towards a death spiral?
"Government should call a moratorium on job losses in aviation and lead a planned recovery.”
