Norwegian to offer low-price flights to the US October 17, 2013 NORWEGIAN has become the latest airline to attempt a low-cost service to America, in a coup for Gatwick Airport. The airline will sell flights to New York next summer for just £149 one-way – an offer made possible by the advent of more efficient planes like the new Dreamliner, chief executive Bjorn Kjos said yesterday. [...]
Met busts drug ring based at Heathrow October 16, 2013 THE METROPOLITAN Police arrested 11 people in dawn raids yesterday after uncovering a drugs smuggling ring based in the cargo operations of Heathrow Airport. The Met said the people, some of whom work for British Airways, were arrested in connection with a “well-established, organised criminal network responsible for importing and distributing millions of pounds worth [...]
Fans stampede for tickets after qualifying win October 16, 2013 ENGLAND supporters have scrambled to find flights and tour packages for the World Cup since Tuesday’s win over Poland confirmed their place at next summer’s tournament in Brazil. Tour operator Thomson Sport said more customers had booked its packages in the hours immediately following the match than in the entire previous month. It added that [...]
IAG denounces Alitalia rescue plans as illegal October 14, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Airlines Group yesterday denounced Italian plans to rescue Alitalia as illegal, as shareholders were due to vote on a capital increase to keep the near-bankrupt flag carrier flying. IAG, which owns British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia, urged the European Commission to intervene over the Italian government’s attempts to stitch together a bailout for [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 08 October 2013 October 7, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES Hedge fund DE Shaw limits investors One of the most profitable hedge funds has closed its doors to new clients, calling time on the industry’s ability to square vast inflows of money with the promise of market-beating returns. DE Shaw’s move means that of the largest six, only Man Group and Och-Ziff, are [...]
Skyscanner lifts off with £800m US valuation October 3, 2013 SKYSCANNER announced yesterday that it has received investment from US venture capital firm Sequoia Capital that values the flight search company at $800m (£459m). “Sequoia Capital’s investment in Skyscanner brings us a depth of experience drawn from a pantheon of tech brands. We intend to offer our users more of the great technology and functionality [...]
Heathrow and airlines hit out at charge ruling October 3, 2013 HEATHROW and its airlines reacted furiously to the industry watchdog’s ruling yesterday on how much the airport can hike its charges over the next five years. The Civil Aviation Authority capped Heathrow’s tariffs for airlines in line with inflation from April 2014 – a blow to the airport, which had asked for a 4.6 per [...]
IAG chief Willie Walsh hits out at visa red tape September 23, 2013 BRITISH Airways boss Willie Walsh yesterday hit out at the government for failing to set a long-term agenda for economic growth and said Britain’s bureaucratic visa system is putting off Chinese tourists and businesses. The chief executive of the airline’s parent company International Airlines Group told reporters on board BA’s inaugural flight to Chinese city [...]
IAG boss stops eyeing Europe for acquisitions September 17, 2013 EUROPEAN airlines will have to cut costs at existing short-haul businesses to compete with budget airlines or struggle to stay aloft, IAG boss Willie Walsh said yesterday, adding that his firm is not looking for further acquisitions in Europe. So-called legacy carriers such as IAG, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM are cutting jobs, renegotiating staff contracts [...]
Airports lifted by post-Games holidaymakers September 11, 2013 PASSENGERS flocked to Heathrow and Gatwick in August, after a lull last summer when Britons stayed at home to watch the Olympics. Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, said traffic was up 7.7 per cent to almost 7m customers last month – or a rise of one per cent when the effect of London 2012 was [...]