Renault tumbles to €8bn loss and warns over chip shortage February 19, 2021 Renault this morning fell to a record €8bn (£6.9bn) full year loss as the coronavirus battered the car industry. And the French auto giant said that the pain could continue in 2021, with the current semiconductor chip shortage knocking production. The firm estimated that the lack of chips could cause production to fall by 100,000 [...]
Supreme Court rules Uber drivers entitled to workers rights February 19, 2021 The Supreme Court has this morning rejected Uber’s appeal against a ruling that a group of its drivers should be recognised as “workers”. Judges unanimously dismissed the appeal. After nearly five years in the courts, the decision could have profound implications for the so-called gig economy workers. Uber drivers are currently treated as self-employed, meaning [...]
Airbus predicts flat deliveries in 2021 as aerospace giant records €1.1bn loss February 18, 2021 Aerospace giant Airbus forecast that it would deliver the same amount of planes in 2021 as last year as it fell to a €1.1bn loss. As a result of the pandemic, the French firm handed over just 566 aircraft to customers – 40 per cent lower than its peak. With the pandemic forcing airlines around [...]
Airline bosses beg Boris for way out of travel restrictions February 18, 2021 The chief executives of the UK’s largest airlines have come together to call on Boris Johnson to include plans for the restart of international travel in next week’s roadmap for the easing of lockdown. Putting aside their normal rivalry, the bosses of BA, Easyjet, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair and Tui have today written to the PM [...]
Supreme Court set for long-awaited Uber employment rights judgement February 17, 2021 On Friday the Supreme Court will hand down its judgement as to whether Uber has been successful in its appeal against a ruling recognising its drivers as workers, not independent contractors. The long-running dispute, which has been bouncing through the courts since back in 2016, could have sizeable implications for the future of the gig [...]
Ford begins drive to electrify all European cars by 2030 February 17, 2021 Auto giant Ford has today announced that its European car lineup will be fully electrified by 2030. With a number of European countries set to ban diesel and petrol cars at the end of the decade, the US firm is the latest carmaker to commit to an all-electric future. By 2026, the firm said that [...]
Ryanair to appeal court decision to allow state aid for Air France and SAS February 17, 2021 Ryanair this morning said that it would appeal after an EU court dismissed its challenge over state aid given to rivals Air France and SAS. Luxembourg’s General Court, the EU’s second highest legal body, backed the European Commission’s decision to grant discriminatory aid to the virus-hit carriers. In its judgement, which was laid out earlier [...]
Maersk fast-tracks carbon-neutral shipping plans to 2023 February 17, 2021 Shipping group Maersk is speeding up plans to decarbonise seaborne shipping by putting the world’s first carbon-neutral powered ship into operation. A.P. Moller-Maersk aims to achieve the move by 2023, seven years ahead of its original plan. The shipping industry carries around 80 per cent of worldwide trade and accounts for three per cent of [...]
Signature Aviation sells engine repairs business for $230m February 17, 2021 Flight services company Signature Aviation has sold its engine repairs business for $230m, the firm announced on Wednesday. US-based maintenance and repairs provider StandardAero will purchase the division. Signature Aviation had been looking to offload ERO since it was first put up for sale in 2018. The deal comes at a time when the airline [...]
Budget airlines primed for land grab as flag carriers face change of flight path February 17, 2021 After nearly a year of intense disruption, one could be forgiven for expecting even Ryanair’s perennially bullish boss Michael O’Leary to be a little downcast about the state of his industry. But despite the near daily cries of anguish issuing from the airlines sector, the Irishman’s eyes are fixed firmly on the future. Speaking after [...]