Virgin Atlantic end in-flight beauty services

1 May 2008

Virgin Atlantic have confirmed that in-flight beauty therapists are to be removed from the airline's in-flight services.

Unite, the UK's largest trade union that represents more than 4,300 cabin crew at Virgin Atlantic today said that the decision to cut the 320 posts was a sign of increasing competition within the airline business.

Unite national officer, Brian Boyd said, "Virgin have agreed to Unite's demand that there should be no compulsory redundancies. The staff will have the opportunity to accept re-deployment within the company if they choose.

The so-called ‘Open Skies’ agreement, consolidation within the sector, competition from low cost carriers and increasing fuel costs are just some of the factors which are now putting aviation jobs at risk.

"We are also concerned that the Government's flawed plans to replace Air Passenger Duty with the Plane Tax will increase pressure on the UK's aviation sector as a whole, and ultimately lead to more job losses. Unite will be raising its’ concerns with government in our forthcoming submission on the Government's proposals."

Unite has recently been involved in redundancy consultations at XL Airways, Flyglobespan, and First Choice, which is a clear indication that the problems facing the industry are similar and widespread.