Excel boss says Elizabeth Line has been ‘transformational’ for City’s events industry May 24, 2023 The chief executive of London’s largest events venue, the Excel, has hailed the Elizabeth Line today as “transformational for the city’s events industry” as the high-speed route marks its first anniversary. Jeremy Rees, the boss of the Royal Docks site, said the rail route has led to a boom in visitor numbers, with the Excel [...]
BT gets thumbs up from Ofcom to roll out new wholesale broadband pricing May 24, 2023 BT has been given the all-clear to roll out its discounted wholesale full-fibre offer to broadband providers after the telecoms watchdog found the proposals were not anti-competitive. BT’s network arm Openreach, which runs the UK’s only national broadband network, put forward plans for a pricing deal that would give lower prices to wholesale customers, such [...]
Virgin Orbit: Branson’s botched rocket project sells off assets and ends operations May 24, 2023 Virgin Orbit, Richard Branson’s failed rocket project, announced it are selling remaining assets and will cease operations, just months after an embarrassing mission failure. In a statement, the “responsive space launch provider” said our “legacy in the space industry will forever be remembered. Its ground-breaking technologies, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unwavering commitment to advancing the frontiers [...]
Hybrid working: Khan must do more to get workers back to the city centre, says new report May 24, 2023 London’s mayor Sadiq Khan must do more to encourage workers back into the office in order to avoid a productivity slump and “unintended economic impact,” says a new report today. The report – authored by the Centre for Cities think tank – urged the government and mayor of London to reduce cost-barriers for commuters using [...]
Boeing boss warns sustainable aviation fuels will ‘never achieve the price of jet fuel’ May 23, 2023 Boeing’s boss David Calhoun has warned that new sustainable biofuels will “never achieve the price of jet fuel,” downplaying widespread hopes for the technology in the sector. According to reports in the Financial Times today, Calhoun said he believes sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) have the potential to become more economical. However, he also said: “I [...]
Elizabeth Line: London can enjoy strike free half term as industrial action on route binned May 23, 2023 Elizabeth Line strikes will no longer take place on 27 May, marking the end of planned half-term industrial action for London’s busiest route as it marks its first anniversary. Eighty percent of TSSA members voted to accept the latest pay offer, which the union says addressed their main concerns. As a result, the planned ‘Action [...]
Heathrow: ‘Doomed’ third runway plans under attack from London politicians May 23, 2023 Heathrow Airport’s plans to reduce the impact of noise are “not ambitious enough,” the London Assembly said this morning, in a letter urging the airport to provide more clarity on the current status of its third runway expansion. The letter, addressed to Heathrow boss John Holland Kaye, said that the “lack of clarity” over the [...]
Train passengers could lose free wifi amid cost cuts May 22, 2023 Train passengers face losing access to free wifi under cost-saving measures. The Department for Transport (DfT), which controls the finances of most operators in England, has said it is reviewing whether the service “delivers the best possible value for money”. Most train services on Britain’s railways offer free wifi, enabling people to connect their electronic devices to the [...]
London Heathrow: Passengers will face ‘no cancellations’ during half term strikes May 22, 2023 London Heathrow airport has assured passengers not to worry about upcoming half-term strike action by security officers, stating that “no flights” will be cancelled as a result. The airport said it remained confident of its ability to handle this weeks walk-outs, having delivered “excellent passenger service throughout the previous strike periods,” with most passengers waiting [...]
Harvey Nichols boss warns tourism tax is hurting UK economy May 22, 2023 The boss of Harvey Nichols has warned that the so-called ‘tourism tax,’ created by the scrapping of tax-free shopping in 2021, is having a significant impact on the wider British economy. Chief executive Manju Malhotra told The Times that the tax was affecting not just retailers that benefit from international visitors, but the “entire ecosystem [...]