Ministers ‘absolutely committed’ to securing future of Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant March 1, 2021 Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has said that the government is “absolutely committed” to securing the future of car manufacturing at the Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire. Over the last week, ministers have been in talks with the plant’s owners Stellantis over whether the company will develop its new Astra model at the plant. Stellantis – [...]
Unemployment claims in London airport communities rise at double the national rate March 1, 2021 The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose at double the national rate in communities around London’s biggest airports in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has decimated the travel industry, leading to airlines and airports slashing thousands of jobs to stay afloat. In Hayes and Harlington, Heathrow’s local constituency, the number of people claiming benefits rose [...]
Shares in new Norwegian carrier Flyr soar in debut trade March 1, 2021 Shares in new Norwegian airline Flyr rose nearly 30 per cent today in a promising market debut for the recently-launched firm. The newcomer, which plans to complete its maiden flight by mid-2021, is launching into a market that has been seriously disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It will focus on domestic flights in its home [...]
European Commission to propose vaccine passport legislation this month March 1, 2021 The European Commission will propose legislation for an EU-wide digital vaccine passport in March, President Ursula von der Leyen said this morning. Speaking to lawmakers this morning, she said: “As for the question of what the digital green passport could look like: we will submit a legislative proposal in March”. Her words come after it [...]
Rail commuters to get flexible season tickets in back to office bid March 1, 2021 Commuters are set to be offered flexible season rail tickets as a part of the government’s bid to try and get people back to offices by summer. The new flexi-tickets will reportedly be introduced by 21 June when England Covid restrictions are due to end and could save commuters hundreds of pounds a year. The [...]
Heathrow’s new pandemic tax pushes up flight prices February 28, 2021 Heathrow Airport has added a new charge on all outbound flights in a move that will make flights more expensive. The airport will be charging £8.90 extra to all outbound flights from April in what the airport is calling a United Kingdom Exceptional Regulatory Charge. It comes after Heathrow posted a £2bn annual loss earlier [...]
Rise in SUVs and car usage hinders net zero targets, spending watchdog says February 26, 2021 An aversion to public transport, made worse due to the pandemic means the UK will have even further to go to reach its net zero emission targets, data from the National Audit Office (NAO) today has shown. The NAO report revealed transport is the UK’s largest contributor to carbon emissions, with cars being the primary [...]
Last anti-HS2 protestor removed from Euston Square Gardens tunnel February 26, 2021 The last anti-HS2 protestors have been safely removed from a tunnel underneath Euston Square Gardens, the rail firm said today. After three protestors left the tunnel yesterday, the final activist departed today, after 31 days underground. In total, nine people had hidden in the tunnel system, which had been dug in secret and was first [...]
British Airways owner IAG swings to €7bn loss as Covid-19 decimates travel industry February 26, 2021 British Airways owner IAG swings to €7bn loss as Covid-19 decimates travel industry
Norwegian Air posts £1.1bn loss as restructuring process goes on February 26, 2021 Beleaguered Norwegian Air today posted a loss of 12.8bn Norwegian crowns (£1.1bn) as the carrier continues its bid for survival through restructuring. The airline said that just 15 of its 131 aircraft were operating flights in the final quarter, mainly flying domestic routes within Norway. It carried just over 500,000 people during the period, down 92 per cent [...]