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 [...]
Logistics groups call for ‘urgent’ meeting with government over Brexit border disruption September 4, 2020 The UK’s leading logistics and customs groups have called for “urgent” meetings with ministers to discuss Brexit border issues over their fears the supply chain “will be severely disrupted”. Eight groups called for an “urgent roundtable meeting” with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, chancellor Rishi Sunak and Transport secretary Grant Shapps. “Our concern is so [...]
Former PM Tony Blair warns quarantine restrictions ‘killing’ international travel September 3, 2020 Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that quarantine restrictions are “killing” international travel, arguing that the policy wouldn’t be necessary with a better testing regime. Blair, who believes we could be living with coronavirus restrictions for a further two years, said he opposed the blanket quarantine measures currently in place. The former Labour Prime [...]
Jet2 to add more flight capacity despite quarantine regime September 3, 2020 Jet2 owner Dart Group said that it would increase its flying capacity over the rest of the summer season, sending its shares up 2.4 per cent this morning. Despite the coronavirus quarantine restrictions, the London-listed firm said that it was “satisfied with the average load factors and financial contribution” achieved over the summer. Since restarting [...]