RPT-Virgin Atlantic ends unprofitable Sydney-Hong Kong flights

(Repeats story published late Tuesday; no change to text)

LONDON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Britain's Virgin Atlantic Airways

VA.UL will halt operations between Sydney and Hong Kong from May 5 because the route is no longer profitable, the company said on Tuesday.

The airline said it would continue to operate services between London and Hong Kong but the decision would affect some staff in Sydney and Hong Kong and it has started consultation with employees.

"Despite the best efforts of our employees, external factors such as increasing costs and a weakening Australian dollar have affected our profitability," Virgin Atlantic CEO Craig Kreeger said in a statement.

"These are still difficult times for the airline industry and as part of our strategy to operate more efficiently, we need to deploy our aircraft to routes with the right level of demand to be financially viable."

A company spokeswoman could not give any further details about the scale of job losses.

The airline said its last flight from Sydney to Hong Kong would be on May 5 and the last flight departing from Hong Kong to Sydney would be on May 4.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith; Editing by David Goodman)

((Belinda.Goldsmith@thomsonreuters.com)(+44 207 542 2299)(Reuters Messaging: belinda.goldsmith.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AIRLINES VIRGINATLANTIC