All countries to be removed from red list confirms Shapps October 28, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that all remaining countries on the UK Government’s red travel list will be removed from 1 November at 4am, putting an end to quarantine hotels. The list – which was amended on 7 October – included Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. “We can also [...]
Ryanair to refund passengers after public mishaps October 28, 2021 Ryanair has announced it will start refunding customers of cancelled flights within five working days. Part of a company campaign to improve its image, the measure was set after the Dublin-based carrier held its first customer panel meeting in September, when customers all over Europe met with senior management to provide recommendations on customer service. [...]
UK tables draft agreement to set global aviation emissions target at COP26 October 28, 2021 The UK has reportedly tabled a draft agreement to slash aviation emissions to levels aligned with the Paris Agreement ahead of COP26. The Paris Agreement, though it does not specifically address international aviation emissions, commits countries to limit global temperature increases to 2C this century and aim for 1.5C. The government received a raft of [...]
COP26: Change your diet and fly less to help save the planet, Sir Patrick Vallance warns October 28, 2021 Behavioural changes such as eating less meat and flying less, as well as green technology to tackle the climate crisis, the UK’s chief scientific adviser has said. Sir Patrick Vallance made the comments as he joined senior scientific advisers from around the world to issue a statement ahead of the Cop26 climate talks, calling on [...]
Budget: Sunak defends decision not to cut VAT on household energy bills October 28, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak this morning defended the government’s decision not to cut VAT on home energy bills to counter rising energy prices. Asked on BBC Breakfast why he did not make such a move, the Chancellor said: “Because as many independent experts and think tanks have pointed out, it is not a particularly well-targeted measure [...]
UK car production falls 41.5 per cent as shortages plague industry October 28, 2021 Car production in Britain shrank 41.5 per cent in September, as only 67,169 vehicles were produced. Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that September was the third consecutive month of decline and the worst-performing September since 1982. Domestic and export markets sank respectively by 47.4 and 39.6 per cent. Global [...]
Long-haulers slam APD hike as it “will penalise Global Britain” October 27, 2021 Long-haul carriers have criticised the Chancellor’s decision to increase air passenger duty (APD) rates for flights longer than 5,500 miles. Luis Gallego, chief executive at British Airways’ parent company IAG, said the move “will penalise Global Britain” at a time when the country should be more competitive on the global stage. “We need to get [...]
Boeing ekes out small profit after aviation volumes ramp up October 27, 2021 In the third quarter aircraft manufacturer Boeing has registered a small adjusted profit after commercial airplanes and services volumes ramped up when travel restrictions eased. The company’s core operating profit amounted to $59m, compared with a $754m loss in 2020. Year-on-year, revenues grew 8 per cent to $15.2bn, going up from $14.1bn. “We are driving [...]
Rishi Sunak’s Autumn Budget: A quick overview of what has been announced October 27, 2021 Downing in numbers and announcements? No worries, here are the main points from Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Budget. – The Budget is focused on the “post-Covid” era, according to the Chancellor, and will pave the way for the “Prime Minister’s economy of higher wages, higher skills, and rising productivity”. – Independent forecaster the Office for Budget [...]
Budget 2021: Sunak commits £46bn to railways October 27, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a further £46bn on rail investment at this year’s Budget. The money is focused predominantly on boosting connectivity across the country. The Autumn Budget and Spending Review includes £35bn directly for railway connectivity over the next three years. It is also committing £5.7bn over five years in eight city regions [...]