UK-US budget flights make remarkable comeback as £255 flights for return ticket Gatwick-New York go on sale May 27, 2022 Norse Atlantic Airways said this morning it has started to sell return trips from London Gatwick to New York JFK from £255. The Norwegian airline is the first-ever airline to offer such cheap transatlantic flights. Daily flights on the route begin on August 12 using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Other US destinations to be served [...]
British Transport Police first UK force to arm volunteers with tasers May 27, 2022 The British Transport Police has become the first police force in the UK to arm its volunteer police personnel with tasers. From today, 22 British Transport Police volunteer officers will be carrying a taser while on duty after they received a three-day course on how to use the weapon. The move was announced last week [...]
Around 4,000 people fined for not wearing masks on TfL network during pandemic May 27, 2022 Around 4,000 people were fined for not wearing a face covering on London’s transport network when it was compulsory due to Covid. According to City Hall data, 3,996 fixed penalty notices were issued between 24 February 2021 and 27 January 2022. Figures also showed that TfL staff prevented 7,283 people from travelling while forcing another [...]
Stagecoach strikes £20m deal to snap up Kelsian’s 150 buses in east London May 27, 2022 Stagecoach confirmed this morning it has sealed a £20m deal to buy Kelsian Group’s east London bus operations. The travel business said it has “entered into binding agreements” to purchase the operations, which also include a deport at Lea Interchange, for an initial £10m followed by £1m each year for 10 years after the move [...]
China lockdowns are exacerbating supply chain crisis, warn manufacturers May 27, 2022 Covid outbreaks in China are worsening a supply chain crisis being endured by manufacturing companies, with an on-going lockdown in Shanghai particularly hitting exports of parts and components, according to a leading trade body. Make UK senior economist Fhaheen Khan said: “What we’ve found from our own members, particularly not just the automotive sector, but [...]
Costs of EV rapid charging increases by a fifth following surge in energy prices May 27, 2022 The cost of rapidly charging an electric vehicle (EV) has increased by a fifth in the last eight months due to soaring energy prices. Data from automotive insurance company RAC reported that since September public rapid chargers have increased their rate by 7.81p per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 44.55p kWh. This means that completing an [...]
Qatar Airways v Airbus $1bn corporate divorce: UK judge grants airline speedy trial May 26, 2022 A UK judge has granted Qatar Airways a speedy trial against plane manufacturer Airbus in what is the latest round of the $1bn corporate divorce saga. “I am in absolutely no doubt that this case should be tried as soon as is practically possible,” Judge David Walksman said. He added that the trial could start [...]
Lower airport charges will impact passenger service, says Heathrow chairman May 26, 2022 Lowering Heathrow’s airport charges will impact passenger services, according to the airport’s chairman Lord Paul Deighton. A former commercial secretary to the Treasury and chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Deighton said higher airport chargers are needed if Heathrow wants to remain Britain’s hub airport and deliver an [...]
End of airport slots allocation leads to lower fares, says IEA May 26, 2022 Ending the allocation of airport slots will lead to lower fares, according to a paper published today. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has argued that buying and selling airport slots on the market like any other goods will lead to more competition between airlines, ultimately improving consumers’ choice. “The system weakens competition between airlines [...]
FirstGroup considers £1.2bn takeover bid from private equity I Squared May 26, 2022 Transport giant FirstGroup has announced it was considering a £1.2bn takeover bid from US private equity I Squared. FirstGroup told investors it was currently considering a 118p per share cash offer after receiving the firm’s latest unsolicited bid yesterday. “The board of FirstGroup notes the recent share price movement,” the group said in a note [...]