Virgin Atlantic plans full ramp-up by fall amid unclear outlook

Virgin Atlantic Airways is aiming to get all of its planes flying by October or November amid continuing uncertainty over how far Covid-19 border curbs will be eased before the end of the summer. The carrier controlled by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is working toward the return to full capacity while awaiting details of UK plans to begin reopening travel from May, CEO Shai Weiss said Wednesday. Virgin Atlantic expects to lose more than GBP1b this year and last combined, but aims to be profitable from 2022 and sustainably so after that, Weiss said. The company has the liquidity to ride out the crisis after two rounds of financing and sales of aircraft, though that would change for all airlines if international travel remained idled for another year, he said. Virgin Atlantic is currently operating 27 aircraft, leaving 10 more, largely A330s, to return to service, a spokeswoman said. Weiss said he sees no reason for any restrictions on travel from Britain to so-called “green list” countries. Opening the vital trans-Atlantic market would require that the US be among the nations listed, along with an American easing of legal barriers to foreign visitors.<br/>