Domestic cruises set to restart from 17 May March 9, 2021 Domestic cruises could restart in the UK along with the lifting of travel restrictions from 17 May, MPs were told today. Maritime minister Robert Courts told the All Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group that such trips could restart along with domestic holidays from that date. A statement from the Department for Transport confirmed that [...]
Norwegian watchdog mulls blocking Rolls-Royce sale of Bergen Engines March 9, 2021 Norway’s NSM security watchdog may prevent the agreed $178m sale of Rolls-Royce’s unit Bergen Engines unit to a Russian entity. According to a Reuters report this morning, citing a Norwegian ministry of justice statement from today, the Russian buyer is controlled by TMH Group.
Dutch to lift ban on flights and ferries from UK tomorrow March 8, 2021 The Dutch government will tomorrow lift a travel ban on commercial flights and passenger ferries from the UK, local media reported. As with many European countries, the Netherlands banned incoming travel from Britain back in January in a bid to prevent the spread of a new, more infectious variant of Covid-19. However, with that variant [...]
Private equity group TPG in exclusive talks to buy McLaren’s iconic Woking HQ March 8, 2021 Private equity group TPG is in exclusive talks with supercar maker McLaren over the purchase of the firm’s iconic Woking headquarters. Sky News reported that the sale-and-leaseback deal for the property, which would allow the carmaker to continue using it, could be worth around £180m. The spectacular facility, which houses the firm’s collection of classic [...]
Richard Branson sues train partner for £180m in Virgin brand dispute March 8, 2021 Sir Richard Branson is suing a former US partner for $250m (£180m) over its decision to drop the Virgin name from its trains due to a perceived decline in brand value. Virgin and Brightline inked a 20-year licensing deal in 2018 that allowed the American company to rebrand trains on its service as Virgin Trains [...]
Ex-government minister Justine Greening joins On the Beach board March 5, 2021 Former government minister Justine Greening has joined the board of online travel agent On the Beach. Greening, who was the Conservative MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields between 2005 and 2019, has been appointed as a non-executive director with immediate effect. On the Beach said her experience in Westminster will help it navigate the “major” [...]
TfL unveils design of new Piccadilly Line Tube trains March 4, 2021 Transport for London and German engineering firm Siemens have today unveiled the design for the new Piccadilly Line underground trains. The trains, which will begin operating on the line in 2025, have 10 per cent more capacity than the old models and use 20 per cent less energy. They are the first air-conditioned models to [...]
Sadiq Khan rules out driverless trains as a part of next TfL bailout March 4, 2021 Sadiq Khan has said today that the government will not try to force Transport for London (TfL) to implement driverless trains as a part of current bailout negotiations. Khan told a group of reporters at his re-election campaign launch that the government had dropped any request to bring in driverless trains, after initially asking for [...]
BA to offer £33 Covid tests to passengers ahead of summer travel March 4, 2021 British Airways has formed a partnership with a Covid-19 testing supplier to provide tests to passengers ahead of their flight, the airline said today. In preparation for the expected summer travel boom, passengers can buy a testing kit for £33, which they can use abroad with the help of an advisor on video call. The [...]
Peugeot and Fiat owner Stellantis nets profit boost after mega-merger March 3, 2021 The newly formed Stellantis predicts better than expected financial results after profits remain high in the pandemic