Future TfL and tube contracts for factory jobs are ‘at risk’, London Mayor Sadiq Khan warns March 21, 2022 London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned this morning that future contracts for London transport schemes which support jobs across the country are at risk without long-term funding from the Government. Khan is visiting the Siemens Mobility facility, where half the 94 new Piccadilly line Tube trains are due to be built, in Goole in East Yorkshire [...]
Ferry firm ‘tore up PR handbook and flushed every page down the toilet’ March 21, 2022 Communications experts have said P&O’s decision to fire staff was”devoid of decency” and an example of”tearing up the PR handbook and flushing every page down the toilet”. Public relations agency chiefs told City A.M. over the weekend that the way in which P&0 let staff go could give government authorities more of a free hand [...]
Shock and horror across Asia as China Eastern Boeing 737 with 133 people on board crashes in southwest China March 21, 2022 A Chinese airliner with 133 people on board has crashed in the southern province of Guangxi, sparking a mountainside fire, state media report this morning. Broadcaster CCTV said the accident involves a China Eastern 737 plane and occurred near the city of Wuzhou in Teng county. It said rescuers have been dispatched and there was [...]
CityFibre to get £300m investment from Abu Dhabi sovereign fund for broadband infrastructure rollout March 20, 2022 One of the UAE’s biggest sovereign funds is set to plough a further £300m into the UK’s biggest fibre optic broadband company. The Abu Dhabi government’s Mubadala investment fund, which controls $243bn (£184bn) worth of assets, will give London headquartered fibre optic company CityFibre an extra £300m, after investing £500m in the firm last September, [...]
Swedish car seller thwarted in plan for £400m takeover of Pendragon March 20, 2022 One of Europe’s biggest car sellers has been thwarted in its £400m bid to takeover the UK’s second largest car dealership, Pendragon. The board of Pendragon rejected Hedin Group’s £400m takeover bid, after the Swedish conglomerate put forward a secret offer of 28p a share, according to Sky News. As Pendragon’s largest shareholder, Hedin Group, [...]
DVLA taking ‘extremely seriously’ claims hundreds of staff were on full pay but not working March 18, 2022 The DVLA is taking “extremely seriously”, claims that hundreds of staff were on full pay but not working during an application backlog crisis. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency responded to an in-depth undercover investigation by The Times , insisting allegations against its 6,000-strong staff are “not representative of the hardworking culture” there. This comes [...]
Which? calls on CAA to investigate Ryanair’s refund policy March 18, 2022 UK consumer champion Which? has called on the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to investigate Ryanair’s refund policy after a customer threatened to sue the carrier. Ryanair announced last year the introduction of a new refund policy, which sees the airline pay customer refunds into a “wallet” attached to the customers’ account. If passengers want [...]
Brits confident about travelling abroad following end of Covid rules March 18, 2022 After almost two years of “staycations” Brits feel now confident about booking trips abroad. According to a research by trade association ABTA, 57 per cent of British people have a holiday abroad booked for the next 12 months. Up 44 per cent on October levels, the figures are close to pre-pandemic levels as UK travel [...]
P&O lays off 800 people following £100m loss March 17, 2022 Ferry operator P&O Ferries confirmed today it is laying off 800 members of staff after the pandemic caused the company to post a £100m loss year-on-year. “Our survival is dependent on making swift and significant changes now,” said a company spokesperson. “Without these changes there is no future for P&O Ferries. Staff will receive compensation [...]
IAG offers €100m loan to Globalia for 20 per cent stake in Air Europa March 17, 2022 British Airways’ owner IAG offered today a €100m loan to Air Europa in exchange for a 20 per cent stake in the company. The airline said the seven-year unsecured loan would be offered to the carrier’s owner Globalia and, following regulatory approvals, it could be turned into the 20 per cent share. “This agreement will [...]