Airlines take-off

Virgin gets bail-out and Jet2 begins operations

VIRGIN Atlantic has unveiled a £1.2 billion bailout package involving only private funds.

The plan to secure its future includes £200 million being provided by founder Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group.

Support has also been given by Delta Air Lines - which owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic new private investors and existing creditors.

The deal must secure approval from relevant creditors through a process introduced as part of Government reforms to corporate restructurings.

Jet2.com back in business

Jet2.com has restarted their flights and holidays programme after suspending its operations for nearly four months.

Almost 50 flights are due to depart on Wednesday across seven airports in England and Scotland to destinations where travel restrictions have been eased, such as Spain, Turkey,

Greece and Italy.

The airports served are Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Newcastle and London Stansted.

When Jet2.com suspended its operations on March 17 due to the coronavirus pandemic, it planned to resume them on May 1.

But the impact of the collapse in demand, and travel restrictions such as the UK Government's quarantine policy, meant aircraft were grounded until Wednesday.

Jet2.com chief executive Steve Heapy insisted that customers are "in safe hands when they travel with us".

He said: "We have been saying for some time that the sun will shine again and that when it does, we will be there to take customers away on their welldeserved holidays.

"That day has finally arrived and we were delighted to see our first flights take off.

"These have been incredibly uncertain and difficult times for everyone, and we have been very busy looking after our customers and doing the right thing for them.

"Now we are focused on doing what we do best - delivering award winning customer service and package holidays you can trust."

Ryanair cuts UK-Ireland flights

It wasn't all good news for the industry though this week as Ryanair announced it will cut up to 1,000 flights in August and September between the UK and the Republic of Ireland because of the latter's quarantine policy.

This will result in the loss of more than 200,000 passengers travelling to and from Cork, Shannon, Knock and Kerry, the low-cost carrier said.

The Republic of Ireland requires all travellers except those from Northern Ireland to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.