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
British Airways dives to £4bn loss as flights reduced by two-thirds March 3, 2021 British Airways (BA) fell to a £3.9bn operating loss in 2020, owner IAG revealed today, more than half of the airlines group’s total loss for the year. According to the FTSE 100 firm’s annual reports, BA’s loss dwarved that of its stablemates Aer Lingus, Iberia and Vueling. These fell to losses of €563m, €1.4bn, and [...]
Budget 2021: Aviation firms accuse Sunak of ignoring sector March 3, 2021 The aviation industry has reacted furiously to today’s Budget, accusing Chancellor Rishi Sunak of ignoring the sector, which has been battered by the pandemic. Aviation firms had been lobbying hard for sector-specific relief for the industry, which has been in a tailspin for an entire year due to wide-ranging travel restrictions. Although the sector will [...]
Ryanair to launch own vaccine passport tool over delay fears March 3, 2021 Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said this morning that the budget carrier is adding a tool to its app to allow passengers to upload vaccine certificates and negative coronavirus tests to get travel going again. Speaking to the parliamentary transport select committee this morning, the Irishman said that the airline had done so because it [...]
Covid crisis deepened for airlines in January March 2, 2021 International air traffic fell 86 per cent in January compared to pre-crisis levels
Sadiq Khan urges Rishi Sunak to extend vehicle payment deferrals for taxi drivers March 2, 2021 Sadiq Khan has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak ahead of tomorrow’s Budget to urge him to extend payment deferral for motor finance agreements so that private hire and taxi drivers can keep their vehicles. Many drivers lease or purchase their cars using financing options. When the pandemic struck, a six month deferral for payments was [...]
Volvo joins race to quit petrol and diesel cars March 2, 2021 Volvo has this morning announced that it will switch to an all-electric range by the end of the decade. The Swedish automaker joins a host of other car makers in announcing a sweeping transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles in recent months. It said that 50 per cent of its global sales should be [...]