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 [...]
We just found out more details about Jim Ratcliffe’s new Land Rover Defender-inspired SUV February 13, 2017 We've just been given more details about a new SUV inspired by the discontinued Land Rover Defender, which fracking boss Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to lovingly recreate – although not to the letter, it turns out. Tom Crotty, the director of Ratcliffe's Ineos, told the BBC's Today Programme Ratcliffe is planning to create a Defender-style SUV. Pro-Brexit [...]
Snow in the City causes flight delays at London’s airports February 11, 2017 For once, it appears the Met Office's warnings of snow in the City were true. Snow showers broke out in London in the early afternoon – but now some flights leaving the UK are facing delays. Snow slow-mo on the River Thames #londonsnow pic.twitter.com/lCSUdmVAfc — Katie (@katbadgerallen) February 11, 2017 Heathrow said in a tweet it is experiencing some [...]
Severe Piccadilly line delays are cutting access Heathrow February 11, 2017 Severe delays on the Piccadilly line are limiting access to Heathrow this afternoon. A signal failure on the Tube line is causing travellers major delays. Transport for London (TfL)'s Piccadilly line tweeted there is no service between Northfields and all Heathrow terminals and severe delays between Acton Town and Northfields. https://twitter.com/piccadillyline/status/830368757247832065 One traveller asked when the issue would [...]
Ford gears up for a major AI investment to boost its self-driving car offerings February 11, 2017 Ford is spending big to up its game in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The US carmaker said it will invest $1bn (£800m) over the next five years in Argo AI, an AI software and robotics technology startup, to support its autonomous vehicle development. Pittsburgh-based Argo AI, which was founded by former Google and Uber leaders, will work to develop a [...]