Virgin Australia set to stand down staff as lockdowns halt travel
By Nick Bonyhady
Virgin Australia is poised to announce a
fresh wave of stand downs across its workforce as soon as Wednesday as the aviation industry struggles with lockdowns and border closures that have slashed travel around the country.
Several industry sources familiar with Virgin’s thinking, but who were not authorised to speak on the record, said the lockdowns could affect more than 1000 staff at the airline.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Australia said the airline was “consulting with unions to manage the reduced demand in flying and the available hours of work over the next 1-2 months.”
It comes a day after
Qantas announced it would stand down about 2500 staff after its flights dropped to 40 per cent of pre-lockdown levels and two days after Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce unveiled a new domestic support package for the industry.