“In rough numbers,we delivered revenue of $2.8 billion and profit of $236 million,a strong increase in profit compared to the same period last year. This represents a group-level profit margin of 8.5 per cent for the half year versus 5 per cent last year’s first half,” Hrdlicka said.

Hrdlicka shocked much of the airline business and broader industry last month when she announcedshe would soon step down from Virgin after four years at the helm. She is yet to provide a specific exit date but said she would not commit to staying in the role for its return to the market.

“The next phase of this journey is another three to five years,making now the perfect juncture to begin the process of leadership transition to deliver the next few chapters of what I’m sure will be a significant long-term success story,” Hrdlicka said last month.

Sources close to Virgin and its private equity controller,who were not authorised to speak publicly,have alleged Hrdlicka had fallen out of favour with Bain executives,who had hoped to refloat the airline on the Australian Securities Exchange by the end of this financial year.

Bain cancelled its non-deal roadshow investor meetings in April last year and has not rescheduled them since. The business’ former chief development officer,David Marr,who was charged with leading the group’s plans to float,quit in October. The group’s head of investor relations,Chris Vagg,has also resigned. These retirements mean the three executives originally scheduled to pitch the potential float to investors have since left the business.