Russia’s Aeroflot trumps American heavyweights as the world’s most powerful airline brand February 14, 2017 Forget Emirates, American Airlines and British Airways. When it comes to the world's most powerful airline brand, another name has taken the crown. According to Brand Finance, which recently announced its annual Global 500 list featuring Lego, Google and co., Russian carrier Aeroflot is the world's most powerful airline brand. It carries an AAA brand rating [...]
Peugeot-maker PSA confirms it’s in talks to buy rival Opel from General Motors February 14, 2017 French car firm PSA has confirmed it's in talks to acquire rival European carmaker Opel from General Motors. Any new combined company would overtake Renault to become the second largest European carmaker after Volkswagen. In a statement, the company, which controls Peugeot, DS and Citroen, confirmed that "it is exploring numerous strategic initiatives aiming at improving its [...]
Car prices have surged five per cent since the Brexit vote – with large SUVs up 12.3 per cent February 14, 2017 Average new car prices have risen 5.2 per cent since the Brexit vote on 23 June last year, according to industry research. What Car? magazine said the price changes have cost the consumer nearly £2bn in just seven months, after a "perfect storm of rising inflation and the car industry's efforts to increase dealer profitability". [...]
It’s full steam ahead for Tornado’s timetabled services on the Settle-Carlisle line February 14, 2017 For the first time in nearly 50 years, a steam train is to run a timetabled passenger service in England. The A1 Pacific Tornado will pull 12 Northern services on the line over the next three days, replacing diesel trains on the Settle to Carlisle line. The line crosses the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines, [...]
EasyJet and Founders Factory announce Flio and LuckyTrip as the first travel startups for their accelerator programme February 14, 2017 EasyJet has announced the first startups chosen to be part of its Travel Tech accelerator programme with London-based startup accelerator and incubator Founders Factory. The successful startups are Flio, the global airport app and LuckyTrip app. As part of the programme the firms will receive hands on support from both Founders Factory and EasyJet for six months [...]
Triple the average number of roses will be imported this month from the likes of Kenya and Colombia as the UK gets romantic February 13, 2017 Romance isn't dead, at least according to new cargo statistics from Heathrow Airport. Around 8m stems of fresh cut roses are due to be imported this month; about 570 tonnes and triple what is seen for an average month. The Valentine's Day staple is due to be flown in in bulk and Heathrow notes most flowers purchased [...]
RMT staffing row flares ahead of fresh talks with Southern rail tomorrow February 13, 2017 It might be Valentine's Day tomorrow but don't expect love to be in the air when the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Southern rail meet for fresh talks. The talks, which will be held at conciliation service Acas, are aimed at resolving the long-running dispute over the role of the guard, after train drivers' union [...]
London airports soar to record months as UK shows “economic resilience” in the face of Brexit February 13, 2017 Passenger numbers at London's airports continue to soar as Luton reported a 20 per cent jump for January compared to last year. London's two biggest airports also had record months, with passenger numbers at Heathrow up 4.2 per cent at 5.74m and Gatwick up 12.1 per cent with 2.8m passengers travelling through the airport. Heathrow [...]
More than two-thirds of the public think Heathrow expansion will signal Britain is open for business post-Brexit February 13, 2017 While questions remain over how the government will address air quality concerns over Heathrow expansion, for now the public backing lies very much with the third runway taking shape. That's according to a new ComRes poll of 2,003 people – commissioned by Heathrow (who else?) – which has found more than two-thirds of the public think building a [...]
Tube strike threat over staffing and ticket office closures is off after the TSSA accepts London Underground deal over jobs February 13, 2017 The threat of industrial action on the London Underground over jobs has come to an end, after the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) accepted a deal. As a result, the union has called off its overtime ban. Both the TSSA and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union had been in dispute with London Underground over [...]