Editing Virgin Atlantic (section)

===Recent years===
[[File:Two Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600.jpg|thumb|Two Virgin Atlantic [[A340-600]]s at London Heathrow]]
In May 2014, Virgin Atlantic ended flights to Sydney. In September 2014, Virgin Atlantic announced plans to scrap flights to Tokyo, Mumbai, Vancouver, and Cape Town, and to [[codesharing|codeshare]] transatlantic flights with [[Delta Air Lines]]; the company was also reported to be considering axing its new Little Red domestic airline after suffering heavy losses.<ref name="telegraph_little_red">{{cite news |title=Doubts over future of Virgin Atlantic's Little Red airline |author=Nathalie Thomas |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11080436/Doubts-over-future-of-Virgin-Atlantics-Little-Red-airline.html |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=7 September 2014 |access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref>

On 6 October 2014, Virgin Atlantic confirmed that Little Red services between London and Manchester would end in March 2015, and that the Scottish routes would be terminated in September 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11143578/Sir-Richard-Bransons-Virgin-Atlantic-ends-Little-Red-domestic-service.html |work=Daily Telegraph |location=London|title=British airline calls time on short-haul service after just 18 months in operation |first=James |last=Quinn |date=7 October 2014 |access-date=7 October 2014}}</ref> Passengers used the routes from point to point as opposed to using it as a connection for longer haul Virgin Atlantic flights. The former BMI routes continued with rival airline British Airways.

In June 2015, Richard Branson stated that Virgin Atlantic had needed the aforementioned deal with Delta to survive, after losses of £233 million between 2010 and 2013.<!--Copyvio before this comment removed, copied from the following source--> <ref>{{cite news |title=Virgin needed Delta to fly to the rescue, Branson admits |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/virgin-needed-delta-to-fly-to-the-rescue-branson-admits-97r0zz99npr |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=15 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015}}</ref> In the same month, the airline announced it would cut 500 jobs to establish a more efficient management structure.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virgin Atlantic airline to cut 500 jobs|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33335434|work=BBC News|date=30 June 2015 |access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>

In July 2017, Air France-KLM nearly acquired a 31% stake in Virgin Atlantic for £220 million. This deal however never went through.<!-- Copyvio before this comment removed. Source copied from: <ref name="partnership">{{cite web|url=http://www.virginatlantic.com/us/en/media-centre/press-releases/transatlantic-partnerships.html|title=Strengthening of Transatlantic Partnerships|website=www.virginatlantic.com|language=en|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref>--><ref name="BBC">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40745277 "Air France-KLM is buying 31% of Virgin Atlantic."] ''[[BBC News]]'' 27 July 2017</ref>

In 2019, Virgin Atlantic began to allow its female [[flight attendants]] to not wear makeup and have a choice to wear trousers rather than a skirt.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/05/business/virgin-atlantic-flight-attendants-makeup.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur |title=Virgin Atlantic Won't Make Female Flight Attendants Wear Makeup or Skirts Anymore – The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 March 2019 |access-date=7 March 2019|last1=Yeginsu |first1=Ceylan }}</ref> In September 2019, it was announced Virgin Atlantic had outlined plans to expand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-atlantic-outlines-huge-ambitions-for-expanded-460907/|title=Virgin Atlantic outlines huge ambitions for expanded Heathrow|website=flightglobal.com|date=18 September 2019|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref> A key part of these plans would have been acquiring [[Flybe (1979–2020)|Flybe]], with a plan to rebrand it as "Virgin Connect" from early 2020; however, the plans fell through when Flybe filed for administration and ceased operations in March 2020.<!-- Copyvio before this comment removed, copied from the following source--> <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.virginconnect.co.uk/|title=Welcome to Virgin Connect|website=www.virginconnect.co.uk|access-date=2019-11-10|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228233149/https://www.virginconnect.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/flybe-and-widebody-orders-key-to-virgin-atlantics-460957/|title=Flybe and widebody orders key to Virgin Atlantic's Heathrow aims|website=flightglobal.com|date=19 September 2019|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref><ref name="Flybecollapse">{{cite web |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |title=Flybe: airline collapses two months after government announces rescue |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/05/flybe-collapses-two-months-after-government-announces-rescue |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 March 2020 |date=5 March 2020}}</ref> In December 2019, Branson announced that he would be scrapping the sale of a 31% stake in the airline to Air France-KLM and that Virgin Group would retain its 51% shareholding.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jasper |first1=Christopher |title=Branson Drops Air France Deal to Keep Control of Virgin Atlantic |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-02/branson-nears-air-france-deal-to-keep-control-of-virgin-atlantic |website=Bloomberg |access-date=28 March 2020 |date=2 December 2019}}</ref> In the same year, Virgin Atlantic stopped flying to Dubai, a major aviation and tourism hub owing to COVID and issues related to competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virgin Atlantic announces plans to stop flights between Dubai and London |url=https://whatson.ae/2018/06/virgin-atlantic-announces-plans-to-stop-flights-between-dubai-and-london/ |website=What's On|date=28 June 2018 }}</ref>

In March 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], Richard Branson and Virgin Atlantic attracted criticism by asking employees to take eight weeks' unpaid leave. However, this was before the UK Government announced the [[British government response to the COVID-19 pandemic#Furlough and jobs protection|Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme]], and employees were subsequently furloughed instead.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawkins |first1=David |title=Bad Times For Billionaire Branson–Staff At Virgin Atlantic Asked To Take Unpaid Leave As Coronavirus Cripples Air Travel |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2020/03/16/bad-times-for-billionaire-bransonstaff-at-virgin-atlantic-asked-to-take-unpaid-leave-as-coronavirus-cripples-air-travel/#4d9f5cea58ef |access-date=21 March 2020 |work=Forbes |date=16 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Whilst furloughed, many staff volunteered with the NHS, answering 999 calls, and at NHS Trusts in London and the South East.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moore |first1=Alison| title=Furloughed Virgin Atlantic staff to handle 999 calls|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/furloughed-virgin-atlantic-staff-to-handle-999-calls/7027423.article |access-date=14 October 2020 |work=HSJ |date=17 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> On 27 March, it was reported that Virgin Atlantic was expected to seek a government bailout, which was on 1 April reportedly backed by [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls-Royce]], [[Airbus]] and [[Heathrow Airport|Heathrow]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52066640|title=Virgin Atlantic seeks bailout in coming days|date=2020-03-27|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-04-03|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=correspondent|first=Gwyn Topham Transport|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/01/virgin-atlantic-bailout-backed-by-rolls-royce-airbus-and-heathrow|title=Virgin Atlantic bailout backed by Rolls-Royce, Airbus and Heathrow|date=2020-04-01|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-04-03|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In May 2020, Virgin Atlantic announced over 3,000 jobs losses in the UK and an imminent end to operations at [[Gatwick Airport]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-05|title=Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52542038|access-date=2020-05-06}}</ref> On June 7, Virgin Atlantic commenced cargo-only flights between Brussels Airport and London Heathrow, feeding the high demand for European cargo into its network via LHR. As of 2022 the flights still continue on a daily basis, using all aircraft types within the fleet. <!-- Copyvio before this comment removed. Source copied from is the following Guardian source-->On 4 August, Virgin Atlantic filed for [[bankruptcy]] protection from creditors in the US as part of a recapitalisation and debt restructuring plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/04/virgin-atlantic-files-for-bankruptcy-as-covid-continues-to-hurt-airlines |title= Virgin Atlantic files for bankruptcy protection as Covid continues to hurt airlines |access-date=4 August 2020|website=The Guardian|date= 4 August 2020 }}</ref> On August 25, 2020, creditors approved the £1.2bn (€1.3bn) rescue package and debt restructuring.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-25|title=Virgin Atlantic rescue approved but airlines continue to feel the heat|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-40037801.html|access-date=2020-08-26|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}</ref> <!--Copyvio before this comment removed. Source copied from: <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-15/virgin-atlantic-sells-jets-to-pay-off-rescuer-davidson-kempner|title=Virgin Atlantic Sells Jets to Pay Off Rescuer Davidson Kempner|website=bloomberg.com|date=15 January 2021|access-date=28 January 2021}}</ref>--> On September 4, 2020, Virgin Atlantic announced a second round of job cuts, totalling 1,150 across all departments. Since the start of 2020, the company halved its workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief executive Shai Weiss said that "further reducing the number of people we employ is heartbreaking but essential."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/976a87a7-fa63-4813-8e87-2abb4c702914 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/976a87a7-fa63-4813-8e87-2abb4c702914 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title= Virgin Atlantic to shed 1,000 more jobs as Covid-19 crisis bites deeper|work=Financial Times|date=4 September 2020|last=Georgiadis|first=Phillip|access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-virgin-atlantic/virgin-atlantic-plans-1150-more-job-cuts-after-completing-rescue-deal-idUSKBN25V1MG|title=Virgin Atlantic plans 1,150 more job cuts|publisher=reuters.com|date=4 September 2020|access-date=10 September 2020}}</ref>

As of February 2022, during [[Russia]]'s [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]], Virgin Atlantic, along with the other UK carriers, observed a ban from travelling in Russian [[airspace]] that was a retaliatory measure for the UK's ban on Russia's [[Flag carrier|main carrier]], [[Aeroflot]] and all other Russian private jets and carriers from using UK airspace.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-26 |title=Ukraine invasion: More countries issue airspace ban on Russian planes |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60539303 |access-date=2022-02-26}}</ref> Virgin Atlantic said that avoiding Russia would add between 15 minutes and an hour to flight journeys between the UK and India and Pakistan.

On 27 September 2022, Virgin Atlantic announced that the airline would join [[SkyTeam]] airline alliance in early 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virgin Atlantic joins Skyteam |url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2022/09/27/virgin-atlantic-joins-skyteam/ |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=Business Traveller |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite press release |title=Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam Alliance |url=https://www.skyteam.com/en/about/press-releases/press-releases-2022/virgin-atlantic-to-join-skyteam-alliance |location=Amsterdam |publisher=SkyTeam |access-date=2022-09-27}}</ref> It was first time that a British airline joined an airline alliance since [[British Midland International]] joined [[Star Alliance]] in 2002 and [[British Airways]] of [[Oneworld]] in 1999. In February 2023, the airline stated that it would officially be a part of SkyTeam on March 2, 2023.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In November 2023, the airlines announced plans to resume its flights to Dubai after four years of ceasing operations in the emirate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virgin Atlantic returns to Dubai after 2019 |url=https://thearabianpost.com/virgin-atlantic-returns-to-dubai-after-2019/ |website=Arabian Post|date=November 2023 }}</ref> Also in November 2023, the airline announced plans to operate a flight on November 28 between London Heathrow and New York City using 100 percent [[sustainable aviation fuel]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-06 |title=Virgin Atlantic wins UK permit for 100% sustainable fuel transatlantic flight |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/virgin-atlantic-fly-transatlantic-with-100-sustainable-fuel-2023-11-06/ |access-date=2023-11-07}}</ref> The flight will be operated on the airlines' [[Boeing 787-9]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prisco |first=Jacopo |date=2023-11-28 |title=Plane will fly from London to New York with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Experts say it's not a fix |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/28/travel/first-transatlantic-flight-saf-climate-scn-spc/index.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> The flight was successful and made it to New York from London on November 28, 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |last2=correspondent |first2=Gwyn Topham Transport |date=2023-11-28 |title=First transatlantic flight using 100% sustainable jet fuel takes off |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/28/transatlantic-flight-sustainable-jet-fuel-virgin-atlantic-saf |access-date=2023-11-29 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Because it was a test flight, there were no fare-paying passengers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-28 |title=Groundbreaking transatlantic flight using greener fuel lands in the US |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67548961 |access-date=2023-11-29}}</ref>

On 19 May 2024, it was reported that approximately 200 former cabin crew were suing Virgin Atlantic for unfair dismissal during the redundancy process following the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. It was reported that they protected over 350 new hires who had only completed approximately 1 week of training out of 6 weeks rather than keep experienced older staff who had been with the airline for over 20 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=2024-05-19 |title=Hundreds of Virgin Atlantic cabin crew sue for unfair dismissal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/19/hundreds-virgin-atlantic-cabin-crew-sue-unfair-dismissal |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This was despite CEO Shai Weis taking the biggest bonus of any airline CEO in Europe.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}