Virgin Atlantic is to cut flights and axe up to 600 jobs this winter due to falling passenger demand.

The airline said that it would cut winter capacity by 7 per cent by axing its Chicago service and reducing the frequency of flights to Hong Kong.

As a result, up to 600 jobs could go although the exact number has yet to be determined. Virgin said it hoped any headcount reduction could be achieved through sabbaticals, job sharing or voluntary redundancy.

Earlier this year, Virgin said that another 600 jobs would go due to the downturn in the aviation sector.

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway said: “The outlook for the industry is as bleak as ever and all airlines are having to shrink their businesses. The fittest will survive and be in a stronger position when the economy grows.

“We will look to minimise the number of compulsory redundancies and ensure we treat our staff as fairly as possible.”

Earlier, British Airways also announced changes to its winter 2009/10 programme. BA’s Gatwick to Rome services are being reduced from two a day to one, while reductions from Heathrow include Brussels from seven to six flights a day; Paris from 10 to nine, Nice and Berlin from six to five and Edinburgh from 11 to 10.

But Heathrow-Warsaw and Heathrow-Istanbul frequencies will increase from two a day to three, while Heathrow-Rome rises from five a day to six.

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