Virgin Atlantic has not operated any passenger flights to Hong Kong since December 2021, after the city government suspended all flights from the UK due to the resurgence of Covid-19 cases. -19.
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British airline Virgin Atlantic on Wednesday announced a permanent shutdown of operations in Hong Kong due to issues related to the closure of Russian airspace.
The decision marks the end of London Heathrow to Hong Kong and the closure of the airline’s Hong Kong office. It also calls time for the airline’s 30-year presence in the Asian financial hub.
Virgin Atlantic said in a statement that the closure of Russian airspace after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in late February was one of the “complexities” that contributed to the decision.
It said that on the basis that airspace remains closed, flight times from Heathrow to London will be about 1 hour longer than in 2019, while flights from Hong Kong to Heathrow will be 1 hour and 50 minutes longer.
It added that Virgin Australia’s 2019 termination of Hong Kong to Melbourne and Hong Kong to Sydney routes had reduced the airline’s presence in the city-state.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the London Heathrow – Hong Kong services and close our Hong Kong office, after nearly 30 years of proudly serving this central Asian city. “, an airline spokesman said.
Significantly complicated operations due to the continued closure of Russian airspace contributed to the commercial decision not to resume flights in March 2023 as planned, which have been suspended since December 2013. 2021,” it added.
Virgin Atlantic has not operated any passenger flights to Hong Kong since December 2021, after the city government suspended all flights from the UK due to a resurgence of cases. Covid-19.
The airline had previously expected to resume services in Hong Kong from March 2023. However, with Wednesday’s announcement, the airline said it would be able to increase service in key markets another point from next summer.
About 46 Virgin Atlantic jobs, including those of office workers and flight attendants, will be affected by the decision. according to Bloomberg.
The airline said it would offer refunds or vouchers for Virgin Atlantic’s alternative services to a “limited number” of customers going from March next year.
Virgin’s departure from Hong Kong is the first flight by a major airline since American Airlines leaving the city at the end of 2021.
