Virgin Atlantic has announced it is to cut 3,000 jobs in the UK and end its operation at Gatwick airport.
The shock announcement comes after rival British Airways said it could not rule out closing its Gatwick operation.
Many airlines have been struggling as the coronavirus pandemic has brought global travel to a virtual standstill.
The airline currently employs a total of about 10,000 people. It says that the jobs will be lost across the board.
Virgin Atlantic, which is in the process of applying for emergency loans from the government, also plans to reduce the size of its fleet of aircraft from 45 to 35 by the summer of 2022.
It hopes to restore about 60% of its pre-pandemic flying capacity by the end of 2020.