French aircraft engine maker Safran launches €8.5bn takeover of aircraft seat maker Zodiac Aerospace January 19, 2017 Safran has launched an agreed €8.5bn (£7.4bn) bid for aeroplane seat maker Zodiac Aerospace, creating the world's third-largest aerospace supplier by revenue. Philippe Petitcolin, Safran's chief executive said the acquisition represents "a unique opportunity" and said his company's industrial expertise will "accelerate the return to their historical levels of profitability in the seats and cabin activities". He [...]
Who flies by private jet? A look at today’s typical customer January 19, 2017 Who flies private jet? Well, according to PrivateFly’s bookings, the average jet user is a 41-year-old male, who opts for a small “air taxi” jet from London to Paris. The private jet booking platform has unveiled the characteristics of the typical private jet frequenter, using data from users over the past 12 months. Read more: [...]
Ditch the congestion charge for road pricing, London Assembly Transport Committee tells Sadiq Khan January 19, 2017 The current congestion charge is "no longer fit for purpose" and road pricing should be rolled out instead, says the London Assembly Transport Committee. In London Stalling, a report released today, the committee urges the mayor to change the current system and bring in a way of charging people for road usage that is targeted at [...]
John McDonnell will join striking British Airways cabin crew at Heathrow January 18, 2017 Shadow chancellor John McDonnell is joining members of British Airways' cabin crew who are starting a three-day walkout tomorrow. Unite the union said its general secretary Len McCluskey and the shadow chancellor will be joining the picket lines at Heathrow tomorrow in a dispute over pay. McDonnell, whose Hayes & Harlington constituency covers Heathrow Airport, said: [...]
£49k a year, four days a week: Southern rail’s hiring drivers January 18, 2017 Want to earn £49,000 a year for a four-day week? Southern rail wants you: the company is ramping up its efforts to recruit more drivers to cut down on disruption on its network. Southern owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) said earlier this week it was after new drivers as it seeks to cut down its reliance on rest-day working [...]
Flybe’s Cardiff to London City Airport route set to fly into the summer January 18, 2017 Flybe's "rescue flights" from Cardiff to London City Airport for the closure of the Severn rail tunnel are set to be extended into the summer. The ongoing popularity of the route has resulted in Flybe extending its operation through to the end of its summer schedule. Initially, the plan was for the route to be [...]
Sadiq Khan blames Tube strike troubles on “toxic hangover” left from Boris Johnson’s industrial relations January 18, 2017 Sadiq Khan came out swinging for his first Mayor's Question Time of the year, blaming strike troubles on "a toxic hangover" from Boris Johnson's mayoralty. The mayor has come under fire from London Assembly Conservative members for breaking his "zero days of strikes" made on his campaign trail. "What happened last week was the result [...]
Southern rail pledges to run full service next week as strike talks get underway January 18, 2017 Southern rail has pledged to run its full service from next Tuesday, as talks aimed at finally resolving the dispute between train drivers' union Aslef and Southern rail kick off today. But the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union won't be involved. The talks, to be chaired by Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Frances [...]
Gatwick says it’ll be carbon neutral by the spring after sticking to renewable electricity January 18, 2017 Gatwick Airport has pledged to become carbon neutral by the spring, after teaming up with a global renewable energy alliance. The airport has been purchasing 100 per cent renewable energy since 2013 and electricity now comprises 80 per cent of the airport's operational carbon footprint. It said the remaining emissions will be offset by investments in [...]
Volkswagen shares crash in line with brand woe January 18, 2017 With consumer-facing companies that rely heavily on a single brand there is often a strong relationship between public perception of that brand as measured daily by BrandIndex, and the company’s share price. An example of this is Volkswagen and its emissions scandal where the fundamental driver of the decline in its share price was a [...]