Renault and Aston Martin backer Geely to launch UK firm injecting £6bn and creating 19,000 jobs July 12, 2023 Renault and Aston Martin backer Geely have announced the launch of a new UK-based powertrain technology company, to manufacture low-emission hybrid and internal combustion engines. An investment of up to £6bn will injected into the new outfit, which will employ 19,000 workers. The two automakers said the new group would operate 17 engine plants and [...]
Michael O’Leary slams aviation minister as Ryanair quits ‘waffling and useless’ govt advisory group July 12, 2023 Ryanair pulled out of a key advisory group launched by the UK government to support its aviation strategy, slamming the body as a “talking shop” that delivered no real change for passengers or the sector. Michael O’Leary, the budget airlines combative CEO, said yesterday that aviation minister Baroness Vere should disband the “useless council,” instead [...]
Hostelworld has record revenues thanks to ‘bed price inflation’ and return of Aussie holidays July 12, 2023 Hostelworld reported record revenues of €51.5m (£43.3m), on the back of resurgent demand for big trips to Asia and Australia and “bed price inflation” helped prop up its margins. The travel platform saw revenue growth of 57 per cent year on year, on the back of 3.4 million bookings across Europe, Asia and Australian markets [...]
Bolt to relocate driver hub to the City as UK users hit 9 million milestone July 12, 2023 Ride-hailing platform Bolt has relocated its driver hub to a city centre location on the back of racing demand for its taxis, Morning Wire has learned. Bolt told Morning Wire that it has relocated the hub from Chiswick to Bermondsey due to soaring passenger demand and increase in drivers, revealing that it now has 100,000 [...]
London City Airport to appeal Newham Council’s decision to block growth plans July 11, 2023 London City Airport has said it will appeal against Newham Council’s decision to block its plans to expand flying hours and passenger capacity. “This was the wrong decision and did not properly balance the limited impacts with the very significant benefits of the proposals, particularly in the context of government policy, including making best-use of [...]
London business backs Gatwick’s £2.2bn second runway proposals July 11, 2023 London business groups have backed Gatwick’s proposals for a £2.2bn second runway, arguing the expansion plans would be a boon for the capital’s connectivity, jobs and trade. Last week, the West Sussex hub submitted proposals to the UK Planning Inspectorate to bring its emergency northern runway into routine use, forecasting this would create 14,000 new [...]
Heathrow: UK-US flights power summer travel surge – but it’s STILL 200,000 behind pre-pandemic levels July 11, 2023 Heathrow Airport reported seven million passengers passed through the hub last month thanks to UK-US flights, a massive uptick on last year but still 200,000 behind pre-pandemic levels. The figure, which comes as airports and airlines are in full swing with summer travel, still falls short of the equivalent month pre-pandemic – but marks a [...]
Grounded: Council blocks plan for London City Airport passenger and hours expansion July 10, 2023 Newham Council has voted unanimously to reject London City Airport’s plans to expand its passenger capacity from 5m to 9m and lengthen flying hours. Following an extended meeting this afternoon, councillors on Newham’s Strategic Development Committee voted to block the airport’s bid due to concerns over noise pollution. London City said it was “disappointed with [...]
Gatwick’s £2.2bn second runway would boost important long-haul flying, says airport chief July 10, 2023 Gatwick’s £2.2bn expansion plans represent an “opportunity for us to encourage more long-haul flying,” its chief executive has said, as the West Sussex airport looks to muscle in on Heathrow’s dominance in the long-haul market. “Certainly this will be an opportunity for us to encourage more long haul flying to and from Gatwick and to [...]
London Underground drivers announce new July strike dates July 10, 2023 London Underground drivers are to strike this month in a long-running dispute over pensions and conditions. Aslef said its members will walk out on July 26 and 28, coinciding with industrial action by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union. Finn Brennan, Aslef’s full-time organiser on London Underground, said: “We take action only when [...]