Rail nationalisations on the timetable for this weekend September 18, 2020 A number of rail networks could be heading for nationalisation by the government this week as emergency contracts set up during the coronavirus crisis come to an end. Sources told the BBC that talks between the government and nine private operators were ongoing, but that it could leave some franchises falling back into public hands [...]
John Laing sells stake in East Coast Main Line project for £421m September 18, 2020 John Laing Group today said it has agreed to sell its 30 per cent stake in the rolling stock project for the East Coast Main Line to AIP Management for £421m. The infrastructure giant said the sale in the project — known as Intercity Express Programme Phase Two (IEP East) — marked a strong premium [...]
Thomas Cook is back – but how long will the digital travel company last? September 18, 2020 Launching a new travel brand during a pandemic is brave. Launching a travel brand synonymous with failure is even braver. But backed by a new owner and a reinvented online-only model, Thomas Cook is back. The move to online-only makes sense. Its airline was conspicuously old-fashioned. And in a market today polarised between low-cost, low [...]
Quarantine quagmire – when will UK plc be open for business? September 18, 2020 If ever the term “too many cooks” needed a case study, then you’d need look no further than the government’s quarantine policy for those arriving in the UK. There are no fewer than four government departments which have a say in the policy – the Department for Transport, the Foreign Office, the Home Office and [...]
Singapore added to travel corridors ‘green’ list September 17, 2020 People from England will now be able to travel to Singapore without needing to quarantine on return in a welcome boost to the travel industry. This afternoon the Department for Transport announced that the city-state would be added to its list of travel corridors, along with Thailand. However, people returning from Slovenia and Guadeloupe will [...]
Shareholders approve Michael O’Leary’s bonus despite revolt September 17, 2020 A third of Ryanair shareholders today revolted against a €458,000 (£417,500) bonus for chief executive Michael O’Leary today at the budget carrier’s annual general meeting. Although the firm’s remuneration report was approved by 65.8 per cent of voters, 34.2 voted against the packages, which had been criticised due to the ongoing financial crisis brought on [...]
Kier Group shares soar as it outperforms pandemic expectations September 17, 2020 Shares in outsourcing group Kier jumped more than 11 per cent today, after the group surpassed analyst expectations in a set of full-year results dented by the coronavirus pandemic. Its adjusted profit before tax fell 72.5 per cent to £16.9m, compared to £61.4m in 2019 after costs related to restructuring and Covid-19. Costs directly related [...]
P&O Cruises cancels all sailings until early next year September 17, 2020 Carnival-owned P&O Cruises today announced that all of its cruises would be cancelled until the new year due to the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, the group said that all the ferry company’s Caribbean cruises would be scrapped until the end of January, while all sailings to and from Southampton are cancelled throughout February. Shares [...]
Chris Grayling sets sail again with new £100,000 ports advisory role September 17, 2020 Former transport secretary Chris Grayling’s latest endeavour has been revealed – an £100,000 per year role to advise a global port company. The Tory MP will be paid for seven hours of work a week for a year by China-headquartered Hutchison Ports, the MPs’ register of financial interests said. The company operates Harwich, Felixstowe and [...]
Travelling to work hits highest level since Covid began September 17, 2020 The proportion of people travelling to work hit its highest level since the coronavirus lockdown began last week as Britons’ gradual return to offices and workplaces continued. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 62 per cent of people travelled to work in the week that ended on 13 September. It was the first time [...]