Virgin Atlantic, the airline founded by British businessman Richard Branson, has filed for relief from creditors in the United States as the virus pandemic hammers the industry.
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The airline made the filing in federal bankruptcy court in New York on Tuesday after a proceeding in the United Kingdom.
A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic cast the Chapter 15 bankruptcy filing as part of a court process to carry out a restructuring plan the airline announced last month.
The process is supported by a majority of the airline's creditors and the company hopes to emerge from the process in September, she said.
Virgin Atlantic's move follows bankruptcy filings in the US by Latin America's two biggest airlines, Latam and Avianca, and by Mexico's Aeromexico since the start of the pandemic.
Virgin's sister airline Virgin Australia filed for protection from creditors in its home country in April. It announced on Wednesday Sydney time about 3000 jobs would go under a trimmed-down vision of the carrier under new owners.
Airlines have been slammed by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to travel restrictions and left many people afraid to fly.
The International Air Transport Association, a trade group for global airlines, estimates the industry will lose $US84 billion ($A118 billion) this year and revenue will drop by half from 2019 levels.
Branson had appealed to the British government for financial help. Virgin Atlantic said last month it raised 1.2 billion pounds ($A2.5 billion) from private sources including Branson to shore up its battered finances.
Australian Associated Press
