Budget airlines have become a part of modern life, for better or worse August 1, 2008 Rising oil prices mean that cheap flights are under threat. But is that a good or a bad thing? Such arcane things as the price of oil were until recently beyond the ken of most ordinary folk. But the workings of massive Kazakh exploration companies and the politics of laying pipelines across Uzbekistan are now [...]
Ryanair cuts ticket prices while earnings plummet July 29, 2008 Shares in low cost airline Ryanair sank 22 per cent yesterday after the company warned it may make a €60m (£47.4m) loss this year, as high oil prices eat into margins. It said it had made profit after tax in the first quarter of €21m- a drop of 85 per cent- but the carrier yesterday [...]
Network Rail rejects MPs ‘reward for failure’ jibes July 22, 2008 Network Rail and the government hit back at an MPs’ report yesterday that identified “a catalogue of failings” on Britain’s rail system. The Commons Transport Committee said that despite bonuses of over £200,000 given to three Network Rail directors, passengers were “inconvenienced and humiliated” by three major engineering overruns at the New Year. But Network [...]
Eurotunnel enjoys strong rise in profits July 18, 2008 Eurotunnel, the company which operates the Channel tunnel, posted a rise in half-year profits driven by strong growth in passengers using the Eurostar service. Earnings surged to €26m up from €1m the year before, but the company warned that revenue could be hit in the second half of the year due to the faltering economy [...]
High oil price leads Ryanair to cut flights July 18, 2008 Europe’s largest airline Ryanair said yesterday it will cut flights at Stansted by 14 per cent, or 250 flights, this winter because of soaring fuel costs and high airport charges. The Irish carrier’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said the move will see it carry 900,000 fewer passengers and trim its Stansted fleet to 28 planes [...]
BA warns it will cut flights as prices rise July 16, 2008 British Airways told investors yesterday it would raise prices, cut flights and would do well to break even in 2008. Speaking at the annual shareholders meeting in London, chairman Martin Broughton said: “It will be a considerable achievement for BA to break even this year.” He added: “With oil at $85 a barrel – a [...]
BA snaps up French carrier for £54m July 3, 2008 British Airways struck a deal to buy French business-class rival L’Avion for £54m yesterday to boost its new OpenSkies subsidiary, which flies between continental Europe and America. BA will add L’Avion, which began flying between Paris and London last January, to its OpenSkies unit, which began operations last month. The flag carrier’s OpenSkies service is [...]
Pendragon crashes as cars sales drop July 1, 2008 Shares in Pendragon crashed 23 per cent after Britain’s biggest dealership cut 500 jobs and scrapped its full year forecast as car sales slumped. The Nottingham-based firm, which owns the Evans Halshaw and Stratstone forecourts, shed the staff from its 15,700-strong workforce to reduce costs – saying it was “difficult to forecast” prospects this year. [...]
Goldenport plans £220m LSE float November 3, 2005 Greek shipping line Goldenport said it plans to raise £80m through an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange to buy more ships and pay off debt. Analysts put its market value at around £220m. A spokesman for Goldenport said that it plans to issue its prospectus and float on the LSE’s main market [...]
Ryanair gambling on giving away its seats November 3, 2005 Fancy a flutter when you fly? Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary says the no-frills carrier is hoping to sign a partnership with a gaming company to introduce inflight gambling in a move which could mean passengers travel for free on Europe’s largest carrier. O’Leary said his bold plan to introduce an airborne Las Vegas could see [...]