This the airline said is due to reduced travel demand and
staff being required to isolate as COVID-19 case numbers rise in Australia.
The airline, which competes against Qantas Airways Ltd
(QAN.AX), said it would cut some flight frequencies and suspend 10 routes
temporarily.
Australia on Monday surpassed 1 million COVID-19 cases, with
more than half of them recorded in the past week, as the Omicron variant ripped
through most of the country driving up hospitalisation numbers and putting a
strain on supply chains.
Virgin Australia Chief Executive Jayne Hrdlicka said the
surge in COVID-19 cases had affected customer confidence.
“Virgin Australia remains focused on growing its network and
consumer reach and will resume services as soon travel demand improves,” she
said in a statement.
The airline said in November it would add seven more Boeing
Co (BA.N) 737 NG planes to its fleet, nearly restoring it to pre-pandemic
levels, to help meet a goal of obtaining a one-third share of Australia’s
domestic travel market.