MPs demand action from pensions regulator over ‘staggering’ deficit in rail sector April 15, 2019 The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has been asked to come clean on the extent of the rail sector's pensions deficit after the issue was brought to a head with the government's decision to ban Stagecoach from bidding for three franchises. MPs on the Committee for Work and Pensions wrote to TPR chief executive Charles Counsell last week [...]
Jet Airways’ future hangs in the balance as it fails to secure emergency funding from lenders April 15, 2019 Troubled airline Jet Airways has failed to secure emergency funding from its lenders, forcing it to extend the cancellation of its international flights. In a letter to staff, Jet Airways chief executive Vinay Dube said flights would be cancelled until Thursday 19 April. "Please note that the current status of our engagement with the lenders and [...]
Energy Ombudsman warns that customer complaints are being left unsolved as suppliers go bust April 15, 2019 An independent arbiter for the energy market has said a slew of company failures over the past year means customers are not getting redress for their complaints. The Energy Ombudsman told City A.M. it is working with regulator Ofgem to find a solution to the problem to “best serve the interests of consumers.” The Ombudsman [...]
Ground to a halt: Climate change protesters smash windows at Shell’s London HQ as blockades continue April 15, 2019 Climate change protesters have attacked the London base of Shell, smashing doors and defacing the property as thousands of activists took to the streets in central London today. Read more: The cheek of it: Climate activists strip off in parliament Demonstrators graffitied the oil giant’s headquarters near Waterloo and several appeared to have glued their [...]
British Airways finance boss to become new chief financial officer at parent company IAG April 15, 2019 British Airways' finance boss Steve Gunning is to take over as the chief finance officer at parent company IAG, replacing the incumbent Enrique Dupuy de Lôme. Willie Walsh's IAG said de Lome would also stand down as the board's executive director when the company holds its AGM in June, where Gunning's appointment will also be put [...]
You can’t blame Brexit for the British car industry’s woes April 15, 2019 Quizzed by Nick Hewer on Honda’s decision to close its Swindon plant earlier this month on BBC radio, I suggested that blaming Brexit for the demise of the Japanese auto makers factory with the loss of 3,500 jobs was not the whole story. Certainly, Brexit plays havoc with the vehicle industry’s sophisticated just-in-time supply chain. [...]
Jet Airways pilots call for Indian PM to intervene as airline grounds all international flights April 15, 2019 Pilots at the troubled airline Jet Airways are protesting outside their company headquarters as the carrier announced it was grounding all international flights. Employees of the Indian carrier, which is straddling a debt pile of more than £900m, gathered outside its headquarters and demanded that the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, intervene. One pilot told the BBC: [...]
Norwegian Air slammed for imposing ‘1950s’ dress code on female cabin crew April 15, 2019 Norwegian Air has been blasted as stuck in a “Mad Men universe” after female staff were told they must carry a doctor’s note at all times if they want to wear flat shoes. In a 22-page dress code which was circulated to staff two weeks ago, the airline said its female employees must wear heels [...]
Volkswagen to build Tesla-style gigafactories as it ramps up electric car production April 15, 2019 Volkswagen is pushing its electric battery suppliers to build factories with at least one Gigawatt manufacturing capacity, according to its chief executive. Read more: Panasonic reviews plans for expansion of Tesla Gigafactory Joint venture partners such as South Korean firm SK Innovation (SKI) would need to build a so-called gigafactory because “anything below that amount [...]
Power supply issue hits London Tube commuters with severe delays April 15, 2019 A power supply problem has hit commuters along the entire length of the Jubilee Line this morning. Read more: Tube travel chaos on horizon as unions threaten strike action Severe delays have disrupted the Tube line as a result of the issue, leaving commuters to face a horrible journey to work today. Transport for London [...]