BRISBANE - Virgin Blue has revised its Australian domestic schedule in line with the removal from service of five Boeing 737 aircraft from May 7.

The airline said the capacity reduction equated to the removal of 28 flights daily from a total of over 330 domestic daily services.

The schedule changes are effective for flights from May 7, 2009.

They are reflected on Virgin Blue’s web site and will be progressively updated in travel agent and global GDS systems over the next few days.

Virgin Blue said it had not withdrawn from any markets and had conducted a thorough review to identify high frequency routes where projected traffic flows could bear a temporary consolidation of capacity.

The airline said the reductions were a prudent interim capacity management plan due to continued and forecast deterioration in domestic demand.

The aircraft will be managed as operational spares and will not be redeployed in to scheduled service for at least 12 months.

The capacity cut is expected to impact up to 400 full-time equivalent positions at Virgin Blue.