Virgin Australia extended its domestic capacity reductions from 50 per cent to 90 per cent, while Tigerair Australia domestic services were totally suspended, in the wake of further travel restrictions to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

With state border closures escalating across Australia, Virgin Australia said it needed to take further action that will see the suspension of most of its domestic flying from midnight Friday 27 March AEDT until 14 June 2020.

The moves come on the back of the carrier’s decision to temporarily suspend international flying from 30 March to 14 June 2020, and close all Virgin Australia operated lounges across the network.

Virgin Australia said it will work with government to maintain vital domestic routes for the transportation of essential services, critical freight and logistics operations and will also continue to assist customers in reaching their destinations as state borders tighten and will continue to support them with any future travel requirements.

Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah also announced that approximately 80 per cent of its workforce would be stood down temporarily.

“There has never been a travel environment in Australia as restricted as the one we see today and the extraordinary steps we’ve taken have been in response to the federal and state governments’ latest travel advice,” Mr Scurrah said.

“We are now facing what will be the biggest grounding of aircraft in this country’s history. From the end of this week, we will begin repositioning and grounding more than 125 aircraft in our fleet, suspending almost all our domestic and international flying until at least the middle of June.

“I know our people have been working tirelessly to help guests get home ahead of the various state travel restrictions and their efforts should be applauded as they adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

“We plan to return Tigerair Australia and Virgin Australia to the skies as soon as it’s viable to do so, however I am mindful that how we operate today may look different when we get to the other side of this crisis.

“I am only too aware of how much our people are hurting at the moment and these very tough decisions have weighed heavily on me and my leadership team. We are talking to our teams and we are working hard to do what we can to protect jobs and extend payments for as long as possible.”

Virgin Australia’s 90 per cent reduction in domestic capacity means it will temporarily suspend services to 19 Australian destinations currently operated by Virgin Australia.

The company will continue to maintain connectivity to 17 Australian destinations in order to transport essential services, critical freight and logistics.

Virgin Australia guests who are booked to travel between now and 30 June 2020 are encouraged to visit the Virgin Australia customer care hub at virginaustralia.com to request a travel credit online or obtain more information about their options.

Virgin Australia and Tigerair Australia guests who are booked to travel between now and 31 March 2020 are being provided flexibility to change their flight to a Virgin Australia service departing on or before 27 March with change fees and fare difference waived.

Did you have domestic travel booked before 14 June? Do you think you should be offered a refund rather than a travel credit?