Virgin Atlantic returns to the skies

LONDON - Virgin Atlantic resumes passengers flights out of Heathrow terminal 2 but expects "relatively low" load factors.

An all-private 1.2 billion pound rescue deal keeps Virgin Atlantic afloat as the airline returned to the skies this week with passenger flights to Hong Kong, New York and Los Angeles.

The airline will reopen the markets with three round-trips each week though "load factors will be relatively low", Virgin Atlantic COO Cornell Coster told "Bloomberg". While the airline expects "pent-up demand" its recovery will hinge on easing travel restrictions to the US.

Virgin Atlantic will return to Heathrow terminal 3 once demand supports a reopening of the facilities.