Virgin Atlantic no longer considers the Sydney and Hong Kong route profitable and therefore will withdraw operations between the two cities as of 5 May 2014. The airline will continue to operate flights between Hong Kong International Airport and London Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic justified the withdrawal due to effects on revenue from increasing costs and a challenging economic environment, specifically noting the “weakening of the Australian dollar” as a factor.
“These are still difficult times for the airline industry and as part of our strategy to operate more efficiently; we need to deploy our aircraft to routes with the right level of demand to be financially viable,” Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive, Craig Kreeger, said.
The airline said it is consulting with employees who will be affected in both Sydney and Hong Kong.
Virgin Atlantic’s intends to operate the last flight from Hong Kong to Sydney on 4 May 2014 and return to Hong Kong from Sydney on 5 May 2014. Flights up until that date will operate as normal published schedule and customers can be confident to travel until then.
Those passengers booked after 5 May 2014 are advised to contact the airline or their travel agent to discuss other flight options.
2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the commencement of Virgin Atlantic flights from Sydney, and is now added to a long list of European carriers which have withdrawn services from Australia.
