Volkswagen and Ford strengthen ties by teaming up on electric and self-driving cars July 12, 2019 Two of the world’s biggest car makers, Volkswagen and Ford, have moved their existing commercial partnership up a gear this afternoon to collaborate on electric cars and self-driving cars. Read more: Ford gears up to announce up to 550 job losses for UK office workers amid turnaround efforts The firms are looking to pull ahead [...]
Daimler in fourth profit warning of the year over airbags and diesel emissions July 12, 2019 Daimler, the German car giant that owns Mercedes, this morning issued its fourth profit warning of the year after it unearthed fresh financial risks surrounding its diesel emissions scandal. The car maker made a similar warning on June 23, but it has reassessed the risk of fines from court battles and government measures. These have [...]
Jet2 owner Dart Group enjoys profits boost from package holiday business July 11, 2019 Dart Group, the owner of British airline and tour operator Jet2, posted a 36 per cent increase in pre-tax profits as it enjoyed a boost from its package holiday business. Pre-tax profits increased from £130.2m in 2018 to £177.5m for the year ending 31 March, which the company attributed to the “growing success” of its [...]
Ryanair’s chief operating officer to step down after 18 months in role July 11, 2019 Ryanair’s chief operations officer Peter Bellew is to step down after just 18 months in the role, in which he has overseen the airline’s fraught relationship with staff. Chief executive Michael O’Leary said in an internal memo to staff that Bellew, who quit the top job at Malaysia Airlines to return to Ryanair in December [...]
HS2 Birmingham: The £435m station nobody wants to build July 11, 2019 HS2 has abandoned its initial hunt for a contractor to build its Birmingham station, after firms were unwilling to take on the risks associated with the £435m job. The railway said it will rethink the procurement process for its Curzon Street station so as to reduce contractor risk and increase competition. Read more: Business leaders [...]
Heathrow cashes in on first month of holiday season as passenger numbers rise July 11, 2019 Heathrow Airport this morning said it has benefited from fuller planes at the start of the holiday season, pushing passenger numbers up in June. Britain’s biggest airport said it welcomed 7.25m passengers last month, up 1.7 per cent compared to June 2018. It marks the 32nd straight month of growth. Read more: Prepare for take [...]
Norwegian Air boss quits as airline reels from 737 Max groundings July 11, 2019 Norwegian Air’s longstanding chief executive Bjorn Kjos has quit the top job, amid warnings the struggling carrier’s full-year results will take a hit from the Boeing 737 Max grounding. Chairman Niels Smedegaard this morning hailed Kjos, 72, as “one of the most influential European entrepreneurs of our time”. He will continue at the firm, which [...]
Oil and gas companies have no reason to fear divestment July 11, 2019 Petrol heads pay good money at the pumps
Gatwick suspension: Flights resumed but airport warns of delays July 10, 2019 Flights at Gatwick Airport will be heavily disrupted for the remainder of the evening after issues with the air traffic control system led to a two-hour shutdown. Read more: Gatwick Airport train station to get £150m revamp All flights in and out of the south London airport were grounded at 5.08pm after unspecified problems in [...]
Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit to test rocket for satellite launch system July 10, 2019 Richard Branson’s satellite launch firm Virgin Orbit is reportedly set to release a rocket from a modified Boeing 747 aircraft in mid-air today in a key test of its satellite launch system. The so-called drop test, which will take place over California’s Mojave Desert, is the penultimate test before the company offers commercial satellite launch [...]