Coronavirus: Norwegian Air passenger numbers fall 60 per cent in March April 6, 2020 Norwegian Air flew 60 per cent fewer passengers year-on-year in March as the low-cost carrier grounded planes in response to widespread travel bans due to coronavirus. Compared to last year, the airline flew only 1.15m passengers, meaning capacity was 40 per cent lower than had been planned. In a statement, the airline said: “The company [...]
UK construction sector has worst month since 2009 amid coronavirus lockdown April 6, 2020 UK construction sector output plunged at the fastest rate since the financial crisis in March as coronavirus containment measures shut down sites and caused new orders to slump, survey data has shown. The IHS Markit/Cips construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) tumbled to 39.3 in March from 52.6 in February. This was the lowest since April [...]
Coronavirus: UK car registrations decline more than during 2008 financial crisis April 6, 2020 The total number of registrations of new cars fell 44.4 per cent in March, a steeper decline than during the financial crisis of 2008-2009, as car showrooms closed in line with the government’s guidance for tackling coronavirus. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 203,370 fewer cars were registered this year than [...]
Stagecoach furloughs staff as government bails out bus firms April 3, 2020 Stagecoach has furloughed more than half of its regional bus staff after bus sales plunged amid the coronavirus lockdown. With commercial sales at local regional bus companies at around 15 per cent of “normal” levels, Stagecoach has already furloughed around 55 per cent of its bus drivers and engineering staff. Stagecoach’s update came as the [...]
Coronavirus: British Airways owner IAG suspends 90 per cent of flights April 2, 2020 British Airways owner IAG has said it will now suspend 90 per cent of its flights, up from the 75 per cent previously announced, as the airline industry looks to protect itself against the coronavirus outbreak. IAG joins other UK airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet, who have both suspended all or almost all of [...]
Coronavirus: Carnival shares sink as cruise operator raises equity April 2, 2020 Cruise ship owner Carnival saw its shares sink over 8 per cent this morning after the firm said it had raised new equity at a higher cost than expected as the firm covers itself against the coronavirus disruption. Although its cruise ships are currently moored due to extensive restrictions on travel, the firm managed to [...]
Coronavirus: Saga seeks debt holiday and warns cruises could be suspended for six months April 2, 2020 Saga, the cruise operator and insurance provider for over-50’s, said this morning it plans to ask for a debt holiday as it warned that it could be forced to postpone holidays for up to six months. Saga’s share price dropped more than five per cent after it said full year revenue could be down around [...]
Coronavirus: British Airways to suspend 36,000 workers April 2, 2020 British Airways is preparing to suspend 36,000 employees after it was forced to ground flights due to coronavirus. The airline is close to reaching a deal with union Unite after negotiating for more than a week, however some details still need to be agreed upon, the BBC reported. Up to 80 per cent of the [...]
Coronavirus: Aerospace giants lobby for Virgin Atlantic rescue deal April 1, 2020 Several members of the UK aviation sector are lobbying the government to support Virgin Atlantic with financial aid through the coronavirus crisis, Sky News reported today. Aerospace giants Airbus and Rolls-Royce have written separately to transport secretary Grant Shapps, as has UK’s biggest airport Heathrow, asking the government to “do all it can to support [...]
Sadiq Khan: Still too many people catching public transport April 1, 2020 Sadiq Khan has hit out at Londoners who are not following the government’s social distancing rules, claiming there are still too many people using public transport. Khan told BBC Radio 4 today that some Tube carriages were still over crowded because “clearly too many people not staying at home”. The government has said that only [...]