Richard Branson admitted this is the most challenging time Virgin has ever faced.<\/p>\n
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As\u00a0Richard Branson\u2019s constellation of companies operate in some of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus containment policies, he admitted to employees through an open letter<\/a> that “over the five decades I have been in business, this is the most challenging time we have ever faced.”<\/p>\n The letter, which was published\u00a0just hours after reports Virgin Australia will go into voluntary administration<\/a>\u00a0after failing to find a way to keep the company afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, was addressed to the hundreds of thousands of people who have worked with Virgin over the years. Branson\u00a0claimed \u201cmuch has been said about me and our brand\u201d and that it why it was \u201cimportant for you all to know the actual facts\u201d. \u201cThe challenge right now,\u201d he continues<\/strong>, \u201cis that there is no money coming in and lots going out (…) It is hard to find the words to convey what a devastating impact this pandemic continues to have on so many communities, businesses and people around the world. From a business perspective, the damage to many is unprecedented and the length of the disruption remains worryingly unknown.\u201d Branson continued to say he was \u201cworking day and night to look after our people and protect as many jobs as possible\u201d, despite working in one of the \u201chardest hit sectors, including aviation, leisure, hotels and cruises.\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re doing all we can to keep those businesses afloat and I am so thankful to all of you who have continued to work so hard in these difficult times.\u201d<\/p>\n He ended by saying \u201cit really breaks my heart to see the impact this pandemic is having across people\u2019s lives and businesses around the world.<\/p>\n Desperation lingers in the Virgin environment.<\/p>\n A desperate Branson asked the U.K. government for a loan to keep his Virgin Atlantic airline afloat\u00a0stressing he is not looking for a handout, but rather a commercial loan which will be paid back in full at a later date.\u00a0Branson promised he’d pay back any government aid and has already promised to pour $250 million of his own money into Virgin Group. Staff of the company, on the other hand, has\u00a0begged the government<\/a> to step in.\u00a0Virgin Australia currently employs<\/a> around 10,000 people, and indirectly supports a further 6,000 jobs. The future of these employees remains in limbo.<\/p>\nA desperate staff<\/h1>\n