Car industry straps in for rough ride in 2021 January 23, 2021 2020 was one of the worst years the UK car industry has ever experienced, with shuttered factories and closed showrooms due to Covid-19 leading to a record slump in production and sales. But barring a disaster on the same scale, the industry is confident that it will begin to recover this year, even though the [...]
Airline, hotel and travel shares slump on summer holiday warnings and UK quarantine rumours January 22, 2021 Shares in airline, hotel and travel companies have sunk today, after UK Government ministers poured cold water on summer holidays being back to normal this year.
Irish court extends Norwegian creditor protection after carrier receives state backing January 22, 2021 The Irish High Court has this morning extended Norwegian Air’s creditor protection until 25 February. The court granted the extension after the examiner said that the airline had a reasonable prospect of survival. The decision comes after the Norwegian government said yesterday that it would back the airline’s new restructuring plan. Norwegian is planning to [...]
McLaren poaches Talktalk finance chief to steer equity raise January 22, 2021 Iconic supercar maker McLaren has poached Talk Talk’s finance chief Kate Ferry as the firm continues its post-Covid restructuring programme. Ferry will take up the role of group chief financial officer at the Woking-based firm in April, McLaren announced today. She is currently handling the transformation of the listed mobile operator into a private firm [...]
Nissan commitment a ‘vote of confidence’ in UK, says Johnson January 22, 2021 Boris Johnson has today hailed Nissan after the Japanese carmaker said that Brexit could be an “opportunity” for the firm. As a result of the free trade deal with the EU, Nissan said that the future of its plant in Sunderland was secure. It added that it would move additional battery production capacity to the [...]
MPs join calls for support for aviation industry as new restrictions kick in January 21, 2021 A group of over 80 MPs have today backed calls for the government to lay out specialist package of support for the aviation and travel industries. Henry Smith, chairman of future of aviation all-party parliamentary group, today wrote to Boris Johnson demanding the government bring forward plans to protect the embattled industries. In the letter, [...]
London buses converted into temporary ambulances to ease Covid pressure January 21, 2021 Two London buses have been converted into temporary ambulances to alleviate the pressure of Covid-19 on the NHS across the capital. Starting the service in the next few days, NHS staff have been prepped and vaccinated to transport up to four patients in the makeshift ambulances which have been stripped of seats and adapted with [...]
TfL adds 300 electric vehicle charging points ahead of ULEZ expansion January 21, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) has now installed nearly 6,000 electric vehicle charging points across London as preparations for an expanded Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) continue apace. The transport network this morning said that it had managed to hit its target of installing 300 more charge points this year, despite delays from the coronavirus pandemic. [...]
French government ready to help prop up Eurostar January 21, 2021 The French government is ready to help prop up the Eurostar, a transport minister confirmed today, and is in talks with the UK over how to do so. This morning Jean-Baptiste Djebbari told French lawmakers that negotiations were underway over protecting the cross-channel rail link, which has seen its finances decimated by the pandemic. His [...]
Norwegian Air gets state backing for restructuring plan January 21, 2021 The Norwegian government has decided to back Norwegian Air’s survival plan, a boost to the embattled carrier’s survival plans. The airline sought the help of ministers last week after unveiling a recovery plan which would see it cut its fleet to 50 planes and stop long-haul services. In a statement, the carrier said that officials [...]