Airlines bid for furlough to be extended until next May June 10, 2021 The UK airlines industry has called on the Treasury to extend furlough for sector workers until the end of April next year as the wait for the lifting of travel restrictions goes on. After weeks of speculation, the industry’s hopes were dashed in May when the government revealed that just 12 countries and dependencies would [...]
A third of gig economy couriers and delivery drivers have no savings June 9, 2021 Around 30 per cent of gig economy drivers, riders and couriers across Europe had no savings in the first half of 2021. Almost half of the 10,000 workers surveyed had experienced a claimable event such as an accident. Of these, only 12 per cent had actually made a claim and 69 per cent had a [...]
Former Volkswagen and Audi bosses to pay millions in damages over ‘dieselgate’ June 9, 2021 The former bosses of Volkswagen and Audi will pay millions in compensation related to their roles in the “dieselgate scandal”, the German car giant revealed today. The payments will form part of a €288m (£248.5m) deal, of which €270m will come from directors’ and officers’ liability (D&O) insurances. Volkswagen first said that it would seek [...]
Wizz Air says summer flying on course to beat pre-pandemic levels June 9, 2021 Wizz Air’s chief executive today said that the carrier was on track to fly more this summer than it did before the pandemic struck, a rare statement of confidence from an otherwise downbeat industry. Speaking to a conference today, Jozsef Varadi said that the Hungarian flier was already operating at 90 per cent capacity, way [...]
Ryanair wins third case against EU state aid as O’Leary’s crusade goes on June 9, 2021 Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has now bagged a hat-trick of victories in his quest against European state aid for struggling airlines during the pandemic. Luxembourg’s General Court, the EU’s second highest court, today annulled the European Commission’s decision to $550m in support to German charter airline Condor. In its ruling, the court said that the [...]
Traffic light system could cost UK airports £2.6bn this summer June 9, 2021 The UK’s airports risk losing at least £2.6bn for the second year running this summer under the current traffic light travel system, as more travel and aviation leaders called for the scheme to be scrapped. Compared to last summer’s travel corridor system, trade body the Airline Operator’s Association (AOA) said that there were far fewer [...]
Seven thousand Londoners download scooter app as trial launches June 8, 2021 Some 7,000 Londoners signed up for e-scooter operator Lime’s app over the weekend as the capital’s e-scooter trial kicked off in earnest. The largest micro mobility operator in the UK said they saw an average of at least three rides per each of their 200-strong fleet as Londoners to find and hire Lime e-scooters using [...]
Transport for London mulls cutting Tube and bus services in bid to find £900m in savings June 8, 2021 Transport for London (TfL) may be forced to cut Tube and bus services, Sadiq Khan has confirmed, as it scrambles to find £900m in savings a year under the terms of the government’s latest bailout. Last week ministers agreed a new six month funding agreement for the transport network worth £1bn, but the deal comes [...]
Open up UK-US travel corridor, airline bosses plead ahead of G7 summit June 7, 2021 The chief executives of all the airlines which run transatlantic services have come together to once again call for the reopening of the US-UK travel corridor. Routes between the two countries are a central source of income to airlines such as American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, which [...]
Brits in travel chaos as Portugal exodus leaves test centres overwhelmed June 7, 2021 Thousands of Brits face travel chaos this summer, as changes to the government’s ‘green list’ leave test centres overwhelmed and at the brink of collapse. British holidaymakers in Portugal have until 4am on Tuesday morning to return to the UK, or they must quarantine for 10 days. Anyone returning home must have proof of a [...]
