Virgin Atlantic, the airline started by British businessman Richard Branson, filed Tuesday for protection in U.S. personal bankruptcy court as it attempts to survive the virus pandemic that is hammering the airline business.

The airline manufactured the Chapter 15 filing in U.S. federal bankruptcy courtroom in New York following a proceeding in the United Kingdom.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Atlantic said the bankruptcy submitting is section of a court system in the United Kingdom to have out a restructuring strategy that the airline announced very last thirty day period. The approach is supported by a the greater part of the airline’s collectors, and the enterprise hopes to arise from the method in September, she reported.

A Virgin Atlantic law firm explained in a court docket submitting that the business requirements an get from a U.S. court docket to make phrases of the restructuring use in the U.S.

The airline is generally a extended-haul operator, together with flights among the U.K. and the U.S. It stopped flying in April thanks to the pandemic and only resumed flights in July. It closed a base at London’s Gatwick Airport and reduce about 3,500 careers.

Branson appealed to the British authorities for economic assistance previously this year — even saying that he would pledge his Caribbean island resort as collateral for a bank loan — but was rebuffed.

Last thirty day period, Virgin Atlantic introduced that it experienced put with each other a deal to raise 1.2 billion lbs . (virtually $1.6 billion at existing trade rates) from non-public sources, which include 200 million lbs . from Branson’s Virgin Team.

Atlanta-primarily based Delta Air Traces, which owns 49% of the airline, agreed to defer payments it was owed, and hedge fund Davidson Kempner agreed to lend Virgin Atlantic 170 million lbs .. Virgin Atlantic also delayed deliveries of Airbus jets.

Virgin Atlantic’s courtroom moves adhere to personal bankruptcy filings in the U.S. by Latin America’s two greatest airlines, Latam and Avianca, and by Mexico’s Aeromexico because the commence of the pandemic. Virgin’s sister airline Virgin Australia filed for protection from collectors in its property region in April.

Airways have been slammed by the coronavirus outbreak that has led to journey restrictions and still left numerous individuals fearful to fly. The Global Air Transport Association, a trade team for international airways, estimates the business will shed $84 billion this calendar year and profits will drop by 50 % from 2019 ranges.

Branson started and nevertheless holds a 10% stake in Virgin Australia, which has announced strategies to shed a third of its workforce as it scales back operations as component of its restructuring.

The airline, Australia’s second-premier carrier, sought individual bankruptcy safety and its administrator Deloitte’s has entered into a binding settlement to market the airline to Boston-centered investment decision firm Bain Funds. The offer will go in just months for closing approval to a conference of Virgin creditors who are owed 7 billion Australian dollars ($5 billion).