Boeing plans to restart production of 737 Max in May March 25, 2020 Planemaking giant Boeing is planning to restart production of the grounded 737 Max in May, sources told Reuters, despite disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The US manufacturer, which is currently in negotiations with the federal government about state aid to help it through the current crisis, suspended production of the model in January due [...]
One-third of Tube staff off sick as Underground trains still packed March 25, 2020 Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged more Londoners to stay at home today amid the coronavirus lockdown as he repeated his call for the government to ban construction work in the capital. Khan warned London’s Tube and bus transport network is approaching breaking point, with almost a third of Transport for London (TfL) workers off sick [...]
Australian authorities investigating Qantas over Virgin claims March 24, 2020 Australian competition authorities are investigating claims from Virgin Australia that rival carrier Qantas has been briefing the media that it is not financially viable and should be excluded from any state bailout of the struggling sector. The Financial Times reported that Virgin has sent a letter to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Rod [...]
Coronavirus: Global airlines body says disease will cost industry $252bn March 24, 2020 Industry body the International Air Transport Association has more than doubled its previous estimates of the revenue damage that the coronavirus epidemic will do to the world’s airlines, now setting the figure at $252bn (£214bn). Due to the stringent travel bans and border closures that have been implemented around the world as the result of [...]
Coronavirus: Tory mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey calls for more Tube services March 24, 2020 Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has urged Sadiq Khan to increase Tube capacity to alleviate rush hour overcrowding. Pictures and videos of overcrowding on Tube carriages flooded social media for the second day in a row this morning, despite the government’s new draconian restrictions. Khan and train drivers’ union Aslef have both been quick to [...]
Coronavirus: Government will not provide industry-wide airline rescue package March 24, 2020 The government will not provide a single support package for the UK’s airlines and airports, but will instead provide aid on a case-by-case basis. The decision is an apparent u-turn on the government’s original plan. Last week chancellor Rishi Sunak said he would be discussing a potential package for “specifically airlines and airports”. Instead, Sunak [...]
Crossrail construction suspended over coronavirus lockdown March 24, 2020 Construction on Crossrail and all Transport for London (TfL) projects has been stopped due to the coronavirus lockdown. TfL commissioner Mike Brown MVO made the call today, after Boris Johnson effectively placed the country in lockdown last night. The halt to work on Crossrail means the new £18.25bn train line will almost certainly not be [...]
Coronavirus: Tube could shut amid overcrowding, union warns March 24, 2020 Transport for London’s (TfL) biggest train drivers’ union has warned the Tube could shut if people continue to overcrowd carriages at rush hour. Chaotic scenes were witnessed on the Tube once again this morning, despite Boris Johnson effectively putting the country on coronavirus lockdown last night. TfL also heavily reduced its public transport services last [...]
Coronavirus: Ryanair ‘does not expect to operate flights in April and May’ March 24, 2020 Ryanair has confirmed that it “does not expect to operate flights in April and May” due to the coronavirus epidemic, a week after warning that it would ground “most, if not all” of its planes. The budget carrier has instead offered its aircraft to all EU governments to use for repatriating civilians and to transport [...]
Coronavirus: Government decision to take over rail network raises questions over Williams review March 23, 2020 The government’s decision to bring the UK’s rail network under the management of the Department for Transport for the duration of the coronavirus crisis has raised questions over the future of the rail franchising system. Former chairman of British Airways Keith Williams is currently conducting a “root and branch” review of the current system ahead [...]