Virgin atlantic to face record loss of £135m

[Keith]

The Sunday Times has reported that Richard Branson’s airline faces record loss.

Virgin Atlantic is facing record annual losses of £135m, raising fears of job cuts at the airline founded by Sir Richard Branson, the paper reports.

An internal memo sent by the airline’s new chief executive, Craig Kreeger, warned that its financial performance is “well behind where we anticipated”.

Ballooning fuel costs and increased competition on transatlantic services are blamed for the losses, which follow a £80.2m deficit last year.


So.. anyone worried or do we feel virgin will pull through?

[Wendy]

I think they will pull through I think its the APD that is killing a lot of these airlines, it adds so much to the cost of flights and people just can't afford to go. Now that they have merged I think it's a good thing

If it folds it will be the end of our trips accross the Atlantic we can only go because of the Flying Club offers

[Keith]

I don't know how much of the loss was because of all the refurbs taking place... if so then it's understandable in a way (even though I don't think the refurbs were brilliant, certainly not for pe)

I truly hope they don't go. I do think there's a risk with the Delta acquisition of 49%. They've got to be thinking why don't we just scrap virgin, keep the profitable routes and roll them into delta.

Hope not though!

[Wendy]

Oh no, please don't say that, I won't be able to go home every year

[Keith]

Oh no, please don't say that, I won't be able to go home every year

Let's hope it stays the virgin we know and love to moan about

It's definitely a MUCH stronger brand than Delta over here, I think they'd be quite mad to do it.

I do feel they need to give more through to the extras for premium economy though

[Wendy]

I do feel they need to give more through to the extras for premium economy though

Oh definitely I think they have improved UC except for the amenity bags which are rubbish and the food has been quite nice. Although from what I've read other airlines are still much better. But then if I can fly UC for about £900 each then it's very good deal

PE seems to have got worse than it used to be especially with the sharing of the bubble, I still can't understand Virgin's thinking on that change

[Keith]

Oh definitely I think they have improved UC except for the amenity bags which are rubbish and the food has been quite nice. Although from what I've read other airlines are still much better. But then if I can fly UC for about £900 each then it's very good deal

really hoping to go UC later in the year if we can find some nice upgrade deals

As you say, UC for 900 each is basically what I pay for PE so it's a good deal

[Wendy]

really hoping to go UC later in the year if we can find some nice upgrade deals

As you say, UC for 900 each is basically what I pay for PE so it's a good deal

I'll find you something

[Keith]

I'll find you something

yayay thanks

I must say I find it really hard to work it out online :/ and I don't have the best luck talking to them either. It's generally just "no sorry" rather than "ok, if you were to shift your days 3 days earlier and stay 16 instead of 14 nights, then you can do this"

[Wendy]

yayay thanks

I must say I find it really hard to work it out online :/ and I don't have the best luck talking to them either. It's generally just "no sorry" rather than "ok, if you were to shift your days 3 days earlier and stay 16 instead of 14 nights, then you can do this"

I've been doing it so long now, I find what I want online and then phone up and tell them what I want. I always speak to the UC team as they are in the UK and very helpful