Gatwick Airport has announced it must cut 600 jobs – nearly a quarter of its workforce – due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The world’s busiest single runway airport said it was only operating at around 20 per cent of last summer’s capacity as travel restrictions continue to ground flights worldwide.

In a statement, the VINCI Airports and Global Infrastructure Partners-owned airport blamed job losses on “the dramatic impact Covid-19 has had on its passenger and air traffic numbers”.

More than 75 per cent of Gatwick’s staff are currently on furlough as part of the government’s job retention scheme, due to end in October.

The airport is only operating out of its North Terminal at present due to lack of passengers.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport, said: “If anyone is in any doubt about the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the aviation and travel industry then today’s news we have shared with our staff, regarding the proposed job losses, is a stark reminder.

“We are in ongoing talks with the government to see what sector specific support can be put in place for the industry at this time, alongside mechanisms which will give our passengers greater certainty on where and when they can safely travel abroad.

”This support will not only help Gatwick but the wider regional economy which relies on the airport.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff, those who have worked tirelessly to keep Gatwick open throughout the pandemic and those who have had to remain on furlough, for their dedicated tenacity, professionalism and team spirit. We will continue to do all we can to preserve as many jobs as possible.”

The airport already took out a £300m loan back in March to stay afloat, on top of applying other cost cutting measures.

It will now start formal consultations on job cuts.

It’s the latest blow to the UK travel industry, which has been hard hit by coronavirus.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has also warned that the UK is set to lose £700 per second during 2020 from the absence of visitors due to the pandemic and associated travel bans.

It says that the predicted £22bn cost of missing tourists and business travellers this year is partly due to “continuing uncertainty around travel restrictions”.