London Underground halfway back to pre-pandemic levels as Tube passenger return August 31, 2021 The number of passengers using the London Underground has hit about 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on weekdays for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Transport for London said it has seen a steady increase in use on the network over the summer and is preparing for further rises in September [...]
Norwegian hails stronger financial position as bookings increase August 31, 2021 Norwegian Air Shuttle this morning hailed a “clear improvement” in its financial position as bookings at the carrier continued to increase. The airline, which recently emerged from a brutal restructuring period, reported revenues of 591m Norwegian crowns (£49.6m) in the first half of the year. It added that 32 of its 51 planes – a mere third [...]
Ban on non-essential journeys: EU removes US from safe travel list August 31, 2021 European Union governments agreed last night to remove the United States from the EU’s safe travel list, meaning U.S. visitors are likely to face tighter controls, such as Covid-19 tests and quarantines. American travellers face a ban on non-essential journeys and new quarantine restrictions. Whilst not automatically binding, the decision could set a precedent for [...]
Govt urges employers to hire UK-based workers rather than rely on foreign labour August 30, 2021 The Government wants employers to invest in UK-based workers rather than relying on labour from abroad as businesses contend with a shortage of HGV drivers. Supermarkets and suppliers are struggling to meet demand following an exodus of drivers from EU countries, who returned to the continent during the pandemic and remained there. This is coupled [...]
Cazoo shares rise on New York debut in fast start to firm’s ‘next chapter’ August 28, 2021 Used car platform Cazoo ended its first day of trading as a public firm up 7.6 per cent after the firm made its long-awaited stock market debut yesterday. The $8bn float, which makes serial entrepreneur Alex Chesterman’s latest project the most valuable US listed UK firm, came after it completed its merger with SPAC Ajax [...]
August sees highest numbers of commuters into the City this year August 27, 2021 August has seen the highest number of commuters travelling into the City since the pandemic began, new data from Transport for London (TfL) today shows. Since lockdown was lifted in July, more and more people have headed back to their offices, in a positive omen for the future of the Square Mile. 19 August was [...]
Higher food prices loom due to gigantic pay rises for drivers as shortfall swells to 100,000 August 27, 2021 Shoppers could face long-term higher prices for food as result of systemic changes to the supply chain, supermarkets chiefs and hauliers warned today. Bosses at the Road Haulage Association said the “substantial” pay rises offered by firms in need of new drivers could force supermarket bosses to pass the costs on to customers. Hauliers have [...]
Air Partner shares climb as super-rich private jet bookings soar August 27, 2021 Shares in private jet hire firm Air Partner climbed 5.1 per cent this morning after the firm said that US bookings in the first half of the year were above pre-pandemic levels. Such has been the rise in bookings, the firm has been able to offset the decline in business travel, which remains in the [...]
Rocket takes off from Outer Hebrides in Scotland ahead of spaceport opening August 27, 2021 A commercial rocket was launched from Scotland yesterday, ahead of the planned opening of a spaceport. The rocket, named ADA, blasted off from Benbecula Airport in the Western Isles on Thursday. Spaceport 1 joined forces with East Anglian firm Gravitilab Aerospace Services to launch the flight test vehicle, named after Ada Lovelace, the 19th century [...]
British Airways mulling new short-haul carrier at Gatwick August 27, 2021 British Airways is mulling the creation of a new short-haul subsidiary operating out of Gatwick, the airline confirmed today. The IAG-owned carrier was forced to move its short-haul services from the Crawley airport to London Heathrow when the pandemic struck last year. It was one of a number of airlines to close or suspend its [...]