Javid dismisses Ryanair complaint over Flybe rescue package January 24, 2020 Chancellor Sajid Javid has insisted that embattled airline Flybe has not received state aid to ensure its survival. In a letter to Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, Javid said that the decision to defer Air Passenger Duty (APD) for Flybe was a “standard ‘Time to Pay’ arrangement…because of their short-term difficulties”. The chancellor’s letter, which [...]
FTSE 100 rises as retail sector prepares to reopen May 26, 2020 The UK’s FTSE 100 closed higher after investors welcomed Boris Johnson’s plans for the phased reopening of the retail sector. London’s blue-chip index closed 1.28 per cent at 6,069 points, as the retail sector prepared to re-open in mid-June. In the Downing Street briefing last night, the Prime Minister said there will be a formal [...]
UK confirms third coronavirus patient February 6, 2020 A third person in the UK has tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Health has confirmed. The patient, who did not acquire the virus in the UK, has been transferred to a specialist NHS centre. “We are using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus,” said chief medical [...]
Hong Kong stocks tumble three per cent on coronavirus fears January 29, 2020 The Hong Kong stock index slumped three per cent overnight in its first day of trading since the coronavirus outbreak intensified over the Chinese Lunar New Year. Coronavirus has now claimed 132 lives while the number of cases has hit 5,974. The jump in deaths has triggered an international response, with British Airways the latest [...]
Thanksgiving passengers give Heathrow US boost in busiest ever November December 11, 2019 Heathrow enjoyed its busiest ever November this year, as Thanksgiving celebrations helped boost passenger growth to and from the US. British Airways and Amercian Airlines brought in new routes to Pittsburgh and increased flights on other journeys. Read more: Heathrow breaks the history books with over 80m passengers Meanwhile, Delta and Virgin Atlantic also ramped [...]
‘Enough is enough’: Two thirds of South Western Railway passengers fed up with fares January 28, 2020 Barely a third of South Western Railway passengers feel they are getting value for money, after months of strikes and delays caused misery across the network. According to the National Rail passenger survey, just 34 per cent of customers were satisfied with fares, the lowest score of any franchise in the country. Overall passenger satisfaction [...]
Coronavirus: Brits returning from Wuhan face two weeks in quarantine January 29, 2020 British citizens being flown back to the UK from the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow will be put in quarantine for two weeks as a precaution against coronavirus. The government will evacuate Britons from Wuhan, where the outbreak started, and the surrounding Hubei province as the virus spreads across China. Hundreds could be flown home. [...]
Northern Rail set to be nationalised ‘this week’ amid franchising chaos January 26, 2020 Northern Rail could be renationalised as early as this week, as the government tries to contain a period of chaos on Britain’s railways. The franchise operator, Arriva, is thought to be gearing up to hand the franchise back to the government’s Operator of Last Resort (OLR). Earlier this month, transport secretary Grant Shapps said the [...]
What’s in store for the airline industry this winter? October 30, 2020 Although every industry has suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic, few have been as hard hit as the world’s airlines. At the beginning of the year, the idea of a world without global air travel was for most people a relic of a long-forgotten past, but seven months of extreme turbulence have flipped that notion [...]
Flybe collapse: Passengers told not to travel as 2,000 jobs at risk March 5, 2020 British airline Flybe has collapsed into administration to leave 2,000 jobs at risk after it failed in its bid to secure a £100m government loan. The budget regional carrier blamed 2020’s coronavirus outbreak for draining customer demand for flights, and warned passengers not to travel to airports. Administrator EY has taken charge of the business [...]