We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix Britain’s trains October 3, 2012 THE announcement of the suspension of not only the West Coast train competition – which covers trains from Euston to the north west – but the whole of the rail franchising programme and a number of the department’s officials, has sent shock waves through Britain’s rail sector. Patrick McLoughlin, the secretary of state for transport, [...]
Antarctica is a mysterious, icy wonderland and a visual feast September 23, 2012 THE Antarctic tundra is a black and white world, except for the occasional colourful beak, feather, foot or fin, or the blue ice and turquoise underbelly of a whale. While it is certainly remote and desolate, it is also pure and peaceful: it makes you feel alive. From October to March, there is no night [...]
Office of Fair Trading sets tougher fines September 10, 2012 THE OFFICE of Fair Trading has tripled the amount it can fine businesses found breaching competition law, the watchdog said yesterday. The OFT can now impose a penalty of up to 30 per cent of a firm’s relevant turnover in standard cases, up from 10 per cent, as it tries to move on from a [...]
Virgin Atlantic chief executive takes his flight September 9, 2012 THE CHIEF executive of Virgin Atlantic yesterday announced he would leave the airline after 11 years in charge. Steve Ridgway will step down at the end of the year after leading the search to find a successor, Virgin said yesterday. City A.M. understands the 61-year-old has decided to retire in order to allow fresh leadership [...]
BA eyes Asian carriers as it ditches Qantas September 6, 2012 BRITISH Airways has ditched its long-running partnership with carrier Qantas to stop it from affecting International Airline Group’s (IAG) balance sheet, it is understood. A source familiar with the situation suggested that Qantas’ recent financial struggles were the reason for IAG’s wholly-owned subsidiary British Airways to leave the 17-year partnership. The joint business between British [...]
Qantas agrees alliance with Emirates September 6, 2012 Australia’s struggling Qantas Airways has agreed to a 10-year alliance with Dubai’s Emirates, a key step in the carrier’s efforts to shore up its loss-making international business. Qantas will replace Singapore with Dubai as its hub for European flights from March 2013 and coordinate pricing, sales and schedules with Emirates under the partnership unveiled this [...]
IAG boosted by August jump in premium traffic September 5, 2012 INTERNATIONAL Airlines Group (IAG), the owner of British Airways and Iberia, yesterday said its group traffic measured in revenue passenger kilometres rose five per cent year-on-year in August, helped by 12.6 per cent growth in premium traffic. The group said that non-premium traffic grew by 3.9 per cent, while its capacity measured in available seat [...]
Ryanair confident on Aer Lingus bid September 4, 2012 Ryanair is confident it can allay competition concerns about its latest bid for rival Aer Lingus, its chief executive said today, adding the budget airline was also seeking no more than a 25 per cent stake in Stansted Airport. Ryanair launched its third offer in five years for Irish rival Aer Lingus in June, a [...]
Virgin Atlantic to launch domestic flights August 21, 2012 Virgin Atlantic today announced plans to operate three daily return flights between London and Manchester from next year, its first foray into the short-haul domestic market. The airline, founded by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, plans to fly from London’s Heathrow airport to Manchester airport in the north west of England from March 2013 – providing [...]
All aboard the magnificent Orient Express August 19, 2012 ITALY’S in debt, you say? Well, I’m on the Orient Express headed straight to Venice – fiddling while Rome burns, you might say – and there’s no sign of the Italian economy crashing here. As if to prove my point, the flamboyant Massimo shows me another popular purchase from the train’s on-board shop. “These diamond [...]