GWR engineers join rail workers and strike on 1 October September 27, 2022 Around 350 engineers will join colleagues working at Great Western Railways (GWR) as well as across the network and strike on 1 October over salaries. The union Unite said that, despite a current inflation rate of 9.9 per cent, GWR engineers were not offered a pay increase. Disruption will affect the operator’s depots and stations [...]
Virgin Atlantic boss calls on Govt to make ‘difficult decisions’ and bring pound up September 27, 2022 Virgin Atlantic’s boss Shai Weiss has called on Prime Minister Liz Truss to make “difficult decisions” and bring the pound’s value up. “The message to the government is pretty clear in my mind,” he told journalists on Tuesday morning. “Prime Minister Liz Truss has taken difficult decisions upon entering the role. “Maybe you need to [...]
Virgin Atlantic to join global airline alliance SkyTeam from 2023 September 27, 2022 Virgin Atlantic has announced it will join global airline alliance SkyTeam from early 2023, becoming the first carrier to enter the organisation in eight years. It will also be the first and only UK airline to become a SkyTeam member. Chief executive Shai Weiss told journalists on Tuesday morning the move was “an obvious extension” [...]
EV switch under threat from uneven roll out and rising energy prices September 27, 2022 Over the last few years, an increasing number of Brits have joined the green car revolution and switched to electric vehicles (EVs). There are currently over 900,000 electric cars in the UK – up from less than 4,000 a decade ago, according to data from the RAC. While this only represents 4.5 per cent of [...]
Automotive industry underpaid taxes more than any sector after 143 per cent surge September 26, 2022 The automotive sector has seen the highest increase in underpaid taxes, following a 143 per cent year surge. According to financial investigation firm PfP, the amount the HMRC thinks the industry has avoided paying has gone up from £182.3m to more than £444.2m. This will lead to increased industry scrutiny over the next year. But [...]
Young buyers drive private jet boom as owners under 45 surge September 26, 2022 Young buyers are among the main drivers behind the private aviation boom as jet owners under 45 have increased by 20 per cent in the last five years. Data from private jet brokers Jetcraft showed that in Europe 24 per cent of pre-owned jet buyers are younger than 45, with numbers increasing to 38 per [...]
Volkswagen joins materials firm Umicore in £2.6bn battery venture September 26, 2022 Volkswagen has teamed up with Belgian materials firm Umicore and announced a €3bn (£2.6bn) battery parts joint venture. The German powerhouse is the latest automotive maker aiming to bring battery production in-house to protect it from geopolitical tensions as it also reduces logistics costs. While raw materials will be sourced from around the world, the [...]
Labour re-commits to nationalising rail if it wins the next election September 26, 2022 Labour has re-committed to nationalising the railways if it forms government after the next election. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told the Labour party conference in Liverpool today that “the days of tinkering around the edges of a system that so clearly failed the public are over”. Five rail firms – including LNER, Northern Trains [...]
Delta resumes flights from Gatwick in April following 11-year hiatus September 26, 2022 Delta will resume flying from Gatwick to the US in April following an 11-year hiatus. The legacy carrier announced on monday that a daily service to JFK will restart on 11 April, with tickets already on sale. “Delta is a huge name in the transatlantic market and being able to offer passengers across London and [...]
Easyjet ends carbon offsetting scheme as it focuses on new aircraft technology September 26, 2022 Easyjet is ending its carbon offsetting scheme at the end of the year in favour of a multi-million-pound investment into new aircraft technology under its roadmap to net-zero by 2050. As part of the plan, older planes will be replaced with 168 new Airbus NEO, which are 15 per cent more efficient and 50 per [...]