Virgin Atlantic has confirmed that its domestic venture, called Little Red, will halt its service after just 18 months in operation.
The airline, which is part-owned by Delta Airlines, is to end flights between London Heathrow and Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen next year.
The latest airline offshoot was launched in March 2013, with much fanfare and hype after Virgin gained control of domestic slots at Heathrow following a European Commission ruling in after British Airways’ took over bmi.
Little Red was intended to act as a feeder airline for Virgin's long haul trans-Atlantic routes, yet in confirming the closure, Virgin admitted that despite its hope of passengers connecting through to long-haul flights, much of the traffic had come from point to point traffic.
Virgin said its daily Little Red services between London and Manchester will end in March next year, with its Scottish routes closing next September.