Delta Air Lines’ planned joint venture partnership with Virgin Australia is being put on hold.
It comes as Bain Capital completes formalities to buy the Australian carrier following a period of voluntary administration.
Virgin’s restructuring will see a new focus on short haul flying as it offloads its wide body fleet of Boeing 777s.
Virgin has said it will cut all long haul services indefinitely and concentrate on flying Boeing 737s.
The JV will restart if and when Virgin resumes flying transpacific to Los Angeles.
That will likely be some time off while the airline re-establishes itself in the Australia market.
It remains a ‘long term strategic partner’ for Delta.
Virgin previously operated to LAX from Brisbane and Melbourne.
The two airlines will continue codesharing and Delta will still operate Sydney flights from Los Angeles.
It operates three times a week and plans to increase it to five flights weekly from next month.
Written by Ray Montgomery, US editor
