Eurostar boss calls on UK to hike airline taxes to fund rail link July 30, 2021 The boss of Eurostar has said that the UK should tax airlines more in order to pay for the cross-Channel rail link. In an interview with the Telegraph, Jacques Damas said such a step would help the government to achieve its net zero ambitions. He also said that the £250m shareholder rescue in May would [...]
Chip shortage to cut Renault production by 200,000 cars this year July 30, 2021 Renault this morning warned that it would lose production of 200,000 cars this year as a result of the global semiconductor shortage. The figure is double the shortfall that the French car giant had previously forecast. However, despite the fall in production the firm said that it was on track to turn a profit for [...]
New travel rules are a stark reminder of previous government failures July 29, 2021 Even Boris Johnson’s most vocal supporters would admit the government’s Covid travel policy, insofar as it has had one, has been wracked with inconsistencies, confusion and inaction. Dominic Cummings’ suggestion that Johnson outright refused to implement a coherent travel policy in the second half of last year appears to be painfully true when confronting the [...]
New frontier: UK renews outdated space policies as giants seek commercial travel July 29, 2021 The UK is set to start regulating commercial space travel from today, as an increasing number of companies look to capitalise on the race to the stars. Before appointing its first-ever space travel regulator, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), the global legal framework surrounding commercial space travel appeared a relic of the Cold [...]
Watch: Suez ‘blocker’ Ever Given container ship arrives in Rotterdam July 29, 2021 The Ever Given container ship, which blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week in March, finally arrived in the Dutch port of Rotterdam earlier today. Watch the full report.
Open waters: International cruises to welcome passengers again July 29, 2021 International cruises will be allowed to restart next Monday after an extended break due to the coronavirus crisis. Months after domestic cruises restarted, international cruise lines operating in EU, UK, and US waters are finally allowed to welcome passengers onboard at 4am on 2 August but many companies say this won’t be possible until later [...]
Some car firms losing 30 per cent of staff due to ‘pingdemic’ July 29, 2021 Some UK car makers are seeing up to 30 per cent of their staff having to isolate due to the ‘pingdemic’, trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has warned. Speaking at the association’s half-year production briefing, SMMT boss Mike Hawes said that the problem, which has affected many industries, was threatening [...]
Lookers shares drive higher as car dealer upgrades profit guidance July 29, 2021 Shares in car dealership chain Lookers jumped eight per cent this morning after the company told investors it was expecting a higher full year profit. Lookers said in a first half trading update that underlying profit before tax in six months to 30 June is now expected to be approximately £50m, compared to a £36.1m [...]
National Express back in black as savings take effect July 29, 2021 Transport operator National Express said that cost reductions had helped it return to the black in the first half of 2021 despite continuing Covid-19 restrictions. Although revenue was slightly down on last year, the FTSE 250 firm said that underlying operating profit came in at £22.9m for the period, up from a £30.6m loss in [...]
Nissan: Strong US demand and weak yean result in surprise profit July 28, 2021 Nissan posted a surprise profit in its latest quarter, helped by a weaker yen and stronger U.S. demand. Watch the full report.