Aviation support package ‘cannot come soon enough’, MPs warn September 7, 2020 A group of MPs has warned that the government’s aviation recovery plan “cannot come quick enough” as the stricken industry heads into the winter season weighed down with uncertainty over its future. This morning, the government revealed that it would unveil its plan to get the UK aviation industry back onto its feet over the [...]
Thomas Cook tipped for relaunch as online-only travel agent September 7, 2020 Iconic travel agent Thomas Cook could be relaunched as early as this month, a year after the firm went bust in dramatic circumstances. Sky News reported that Chinese conglomerate Fosun, which bought the company’s name and intellectual property assets for just £11m, is drawing up plans to reinvent the 178-year-old firm as an online travel [...]
UK working on reducing quarantine restrictions, says Matt Hancock September 7, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock today said that the government was working on ways to reduce the 14-day quarantine period for travellers from countries with heavy incidences of coronavirus, in a rare glimmer of light for the struggling travel industry. Speaking on LBC radio this morning, Hancock confirmed that ministers were looking at ways to test [...]
First Group shares jump as buyers circle US bus operations September 7, 2020 Shares in transport operator First Group popped this morning after reports that a number of buyers were circling its US operations, which were put up for sale in March. By the mid morning, shares in First Group, which runs bus and rail businesses in the UK and US, were up over 15 per cent at [...]
British Airways and Heathrow in row over £500m charge for failed expansion plans September 6, 2020 Heathrow and British Airways (BA) have become embroiled in a row over a proposal to charge airlines £500m for the airport’s failed expansion plans. A consultation recommends allowing the airport the bill airlines for costs related to the third runway incurred until February this year. The plans to build a third runway at Heathrow were [...]
Rail firms cut services by 10 per cent due to coronavirus September 6, 2020 Rail services will reportedly face a 10 per cent cut this autumn due to the coronavirus pandemic, with evening and weekend trains to be the hardest hit. Some services will be reduced from every hour to every two hours, some direct routes to London will be paused, as well as high-speed trains for airports and [...]
Grant Shapps admits quarantine regime ‘confusing’ for travellers September 4, 2020 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has admitted that the differences to the UK’s quarantine policies across the four nations are creating “confusion” for travellers. Speaking to Sky News this morning, Shapps said that he could only be responsible for the restrictions in England, not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. “I do realise it creates confusion for [...]
Virgin Atlantic to cut another 1,150 jobs after £1.2bn rescue deal September 4, 2020 Virgin Atlantic is cutting a further 1,150 jobs as part of a radical restructuring plan following its £1.2bn rescue deal. The airline, founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, said the cuts were a result of the “devastating” impact of the coronavirus crisis. It comes less than four months after Virgin said it was axing [...]
New car sales fall in ‘disappointing’ August for market September 4, 2020 New car sales dropped again last month, reversing July’s increase, with just over 87,000 models sold in what is traditionally one of the quietest months for trading. According to new figures from the Society for Motor Manufacturers and Traders, new car sales fell 5.8 per cent in August. In July, the first full month of [...]
HS2 construction begins with promise to create 22,000 jobs September 4, 2020 Construction work on the controversial HS2 rail link began this morning with around 22,000 jobs expected to be created over the next few years as a result. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the project would “fire up economic growth and help to rebalance opportunity across this country for years to come.” The high speed [...]