UK economy records highest expansion since WW2 February 11, 2022 The UK economy has registered the highest expansion since 1946, growing 7.5 per cent in 2021 despite an Omicron-induced slump registered in December. According to ONS figures, the economy was recovering strongly following a 9.4 per cent collapse in 2020 but was hit with a 0.2 per cent bump in December. Retail and hospitality were [...]
Competition watchdog accepts Google privacy changes February 11, 2022 The UK competition watchdog has accepted Google’s changes to its privacy sandbox, following a year-long investigation into the tech giant. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched the inquiry in January 2021 over concerns that Google’s privacy sandbox – a set of new web standards that aim to protect people’s privacy more – would cause [...]
Omicron’s train hits Heathrow’s January demand February 11, 2022 The impact of Omicron continues to be felt at Heathrow, as the airport’s January demand was weaker then expected. Passenger demand, the airport reported today, were 56 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels, as more than 1.3 million travellers cancelled or didn’t book their trips because of the travel restrictions set in December. “We haven’t [...]
All bad things come to an end: Post arrival tests scrapped from today February 11, 2022 The UK seems to have put Covid behind as from this morning at 4am post arrival Covid tests will be scrapped for fully jabbed travellers. Passengers coming to the UK will still need to fill out a simplified passenger locator form (PLF), confirming their vaccination status as well as travel history and contact details. “The [...]
No more staycations: End of UK travel rules boosts half-term holiday abroad February 11, 2022 The scrapping of post-arrival tests for fully vaccinated has given a huge boost to Brits’ confidence to travel abroad. According to data released today by travel association ABTA, around 833,000 people will go on holiday abroad this half-term, choosing Turkey, Portugal as well as sky resorts in France and Italy as their preferred destinations. Following [...]
UK travel and tourism could reach £192bn in 2022 if borders stay open February 10, 2022 Following two disastrous years the UK’s travel and tourism industry is finally getting back on its feet, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). If travel restrictions and testing protocols remain off limits, the WTTC predicts the sector’s contribution to the national economy to go up to £192bn, bringing with it a 1.7 [...]
Babcock finalises AirTanker £95m sale as part of disposal programme February 10, 2022 Engineering giant Babcock has finalised the £95m disposal of its 15.4 per cent stake in air transport firm AirTanker. A joint venture between Airbus, Thales and Rolls-Royce, AirTanker owns its 14 A330 Voyager planes, which uses for air-to-refuelling services for the UK Ministry of Defence. The company, part of Babcock’s aviation sector and accounted as [...]
Cazoo raises $630m to support EU expansion and UK growth February 10, 2022 Online car retailer Cazoo has raised $630m from investors to fund its expansion into Europe, while the UK side of the business continues to grow. Investors led by Viking Global will buy via a private placement 2 per cent convertible senior notes, which will then be turned into Class A ordinary shares and sold at [...]
Heathrow 2.0: Airport freshens up sustainability strategy with new goals February 10, 2022 Heathrow airport has freshened up its sustainability strategy and expanded its goals. Under the ‘Heathrow 2.0: Connecting people and the planet’ strategy, the London hub has pledged to build back better and greener, tackling environmental as well as social challenges. Building on the airport’s previous sustainability strategy, the programme will aim to deliver a 15 [...]
End of work from home gives TfL a well-deserved boost to ridership February 10, 2022 Transport for London (TfL) received a well-deserved boost following the end of the ‘work from home’ order. According to data released today, since restrictions were lifted on 19 January, Tube ridership numbers have increased 25 per cent, reaching 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. As workers flock back to the Square Mile, stations closest to [...]
