Work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb and Tory backbencher Liam Fox have both lent their support to expansion for Heathrow July 4, 2016 Work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb has promised an immediate green light for Heathrow expansion if he is selected as the new Conservative leader. Crabb has committed to expanding the South West London airport “as soon as possible” after his selection. A decision on Heathrow was expected this summer, but was again delayed last week [...]
Ryanair has cancelled over 100 flights due to more French strikes on Tuesday 5 July July 4, 2016 Budget airline Ryanair has called on the European Commission to take action over striking air traffic controllers (ATC) in France, after being forced to cancel more than 100 flights. The company has had to call off 102 flights due to take place tomorrow, and said the cancellations will affect over 18,000 customers – with 100,000 more [...]
RMT union says Govia Thameslink Railway franchise is being given permission to cancel 350 trains a day July 4, 2016 Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has been given permission by the government to introduce an emergency timetable from next Monday, allowing them to cancel 350 more trains a day, a union has warned. The RMT union said the figures were confirmed to the union at a GTR meeting on Friday, and that the emergency timetable will [...]
US-style compensation for Europeans could “overwhelm” Volkswagen July 3, 2016 Volkswagen has rebuffed calls from the EU for a US-style compensation package for European customers affected in the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal. "You don't have to be a mathematician to realise that compensation at arbitrarily high levels would overwhelm Volkswagen," said CEO, Matthias Mueller, speaking to German newspaper Welt am Sonntag. Details emerged two weeks ago [...]
Easyjet confirms it has kicked off process to gain certification elsewhere in Europe after Brexit vote July 1, 2016 Budget airline Easyjet has confirmed that has kicked off the process to gain an air operator certificate (AOC) elsewhere in Europe, following the UK's vote to leave the EU. The company was responding to reports that it was in talks about moving its headquarters away from the UK. "As part of Easyjet’s contingency planning before the [...]
Airport expansion: This is politics for grown-ups – a decision must be made soon July 1, 2016 Amid all the schoolyard bickering which took place yesterday between those in the running (and those deciding not to be in the running) for both Tory and Labour leadership came a rather sombre statement by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. During parliamentary questions, he confessed that a decision over increasing London’s airport capacity will not take [...]
Great Western Railway launches new Hitachi train in celebration of 175 years of services between Bristol and London June 30, 2016 The government may have once again delayed a decision on air capacity in the South East, but new, faster trains are about to come into service between Bristol and London. Great Western Railway (GWR) today unveiled the first of a fleet of Hitachi-built trains on the day that it celebrates 175 years since the very first train ran on [...]
A decision on airport expansion has been put back until “at least” October June 30, 2016 A decision on airport expansion will be delayed until "at least October", the transport secretary has said. In Parliamentary questions this morning, Patrick McLoughlin said while he had hoped the government would be able to announce a decision this summer, it will now be delayed. "Being realistic, I cannot foresee an announcement until at least [...]
Infrastructure improvements needed at the heart of devolution agenda to boost growth, according to research from the Institution of Civil Engineers June 30, 2016 Significant boosts to local growth, quality of life and environmental sustainability could all materialise if infrastructure improvements are placed at the heart of the devolution agenda, according to new research. A report from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has found that the focus on infrastructure is a key economic driver for devolution, as well as [...]
Addison Lee is buying rival Tristar as part of its US expansion strategy June 28, 2016 Addison Lee, the UK private car hire company owned by private equity giant Carlyle, is buying rival Tristar. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but City sources put the valuation at around £30m. Tristar, which operates the largest luxury car fleet in the UK, has revenues of £50m per year. Read more: Addison Lee is taking the [...]