Start of airport testing ‘shot in the arm’ for travel industry October 20, 2020 The launch of the UK’s first pre-departure testing facility at Heathrow Airport has been lauded today amid hopes that it can boost the ailing travel industry. Swissport and Collinson teamed up to launch the facility this morning, with tests costing passengers £80. The programme aims to give travellers their results in less than an hour. [...]
Trainline chief executive Clare Gilmartin steps down October 20, 2020 Rail ticketing firm Trainline (TRN) has today announced its chief executive Clare Gilmartin will stand down at the end of February. She will be replaced by current chief operating officer Jody Ford, who was previously chief executive of Photobox. “The decision to step down next year is a personal one; after seven years at the [...]
From Wigan Warrior to eco-warrior: Let’s make the future electric October 20, 2020 I remember the moment my future went electric. No, it wasn’t as I was sprinting 90m for a try in the 1994 Challenge Cup Final against Leeds. It was when I first took my wife’s second-hand BMW i3 for a drive a couple of years ago. We had bought an electric motor as our second [...]
Flybe to fly again next year after administrators agree sale to Cyrus Capital October 19, 2020 Collapsed regional airline Flybe will take to the skies again next year after its administrators agreed for it to be sold to a firm controlled by hedge fund Cyrus Capital. Administrators from EY said they had agreed to a sale of Flybe’s business and assets, including the brand, intellectual property, stock and equipment, to Thyme [...]
British Airways boss piles pressure on the government to scrap quarantine October 19, 2020 The new British Airways boss has called on the government to introduce pre-departure testing warning the UK risks being left behind in the economic recovery. Sean Doyle, who became chief executive of the airline last week, said the UK needed to get the economy going again but “this just isn’t possible when you’re asking people [...]
McLaren boss says operating costs now ‘break even’ following fundraising and redundancies, and downplays second wave fears October 19, 2020 McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt has described his “horrible” 2020 in an exclusive interview with City A.M., but says he is “cautiously optimistic” despite the second wave of coronavirus. Flewitt was forced to make 1,200 redundancies – almost a quarter of the company’s 4,000-strong workforce – and carry out a sale and lease-back of the McLaren [...]
McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt on a difficult year and an electrified future October 19, 2020 We have coffee with McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt, discussing the new 765LT, a "horrible" year and McLaren’s plugged-in hybrid future.
London’s new cycle lanes are causing traffic chaos, says transport secretary October 19, 2020 An influx of new cycle lanes in London and across the country has led to increased traffic congestion, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps. Shapps has written to local council leaders, warning them that badly designed road closures and new cycle lanes were causing havoc for communities and that he “would not be prepared to [...]
ICO fines British Airways £20m for data breach October 16, 2020 The ICO has fined British Airways £20m for a data breach affecting more than 400,000 customers. The watchdog found that the airline was processing personal data “without adequate security measures in place” breaking data protection law. Subsequently BA suffered a severe cyber attack in 2018, which it did not detect for more than two months. [...]
Serco lifts annual outlook after Covid contract wins October 16, 2020 Serco (SRP) raised its full-year forecasts after contract extensions in the UK and cost-cutting measures boosted its third quarter results. In an unscheduled trading statement, the contractor said it had achieved strong revenue growth in the third quarter, with all regions performing better than expected. Serco said it had seen a strong performance in the [...]