According to Jin10, Virgin Atlantic's actual capacity this winter will be about 8% below its original plan, as the airline faces higher fuel costs and weaker demand. CEO Corneel Koster said in an interview on Wednesday that the airline's aviation fuel spending will rise by hundreds of millions of pounds next year.

Rising oil prices are pushing several airlines worldwide to lower their full-year guidance, while others are cutting costs across the board. Koster said Virgin Atlantic has begun improving back-office efficiency, including using artificial intelligence to speed up some business processes.

British Airways parent International Airlines Group has abandoned some of its annual growth plans. Ryanair is planning significant cost cuts after its after-tax profit fell 15% in the first half. American Airlines Group lowered its full-year outlook again in October, while United Airlines Holdings expects earnings in the final three months of 2026 to fall below market expectations.