Southeastern to introduce colour-coded system to help commuters avoid busy trains August 25, 2020 Train franchise Southeastern will from next week tell passengers how busy their train is before they board to help them better observe social distancing rules. The operator, which runs rail services into London and the south-east, will become the first franchise to share such data directly with commuters in a bid to increase confidence that [...]
Wizz Air plots Gatwick growth despite Covid-19 quarantine rollercoaster August 25, 2020 The boss of Wizz Air remains committed to more flights from London's Gatwick airport
Virgin Atlantic unveils coronavirus insurance package on eve of crunch bailout vote August 24, 2020 Virgin Atlantic has today unveiled a comprehensive new coronavirus insurance package for all new and existing bookings up until the end of March next year. The new offer was revealed on the eve of a crunch High Court vote on a £1.2bn bailout package that could keep the carrier flying if it is approved. The [...]
Balfour Beatty joint venture secures £1.3bn Hong Kong airport deal August 24, 2020 Construction firm Balfour Beatty this morning announced that its south-east Asia joint venture has won a HK$12.9bn (£1.27bn) contract to expand Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 2. Under the four-year deal, Gammon, of which the FTSE 250 company owns 50 per cent, will increase the size of the main terminal building and construct the surrounding [...]
Travel industry ‘desperately’ calls for help as jobs crisis looms August 24, 2020 The UK travel industry “desperately” needs more government help, with 39,000 jobs already lost or at risk due to the coronavirus pandemic, trade body ABTA has warned. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said that without “tailored support” 83 per cent of firms will be at “critical or serious” risk. Travel has been one [...]
Easyjet offers pilots ‘seasonal’ contracts to stave off job cuts August 23, 2020 Pilots at budget carrier Easyjet have been offered six-month long “seasonal” contracts in a bid to stave off sweeping job cuts amid the downturn in air travel. Up to 727 pilots’ jobs are at risk at the low-cost airline, which has seen passenger demand collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the new offer, pilots [...]
Crossrail opening delayed until 2022 and extra £1.1bn needed to finish project August 21, 2020 The opening of London’s new Crossrail underground line has been delayed until 2022 and an extra £1.1bn is needed to complete the project, Crossrail Ltd said today. Crossrail said the central section of the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Abbey Wood will be ready to open in the first half of 2022. Crossrail has faced [...]
Square Mile builder: It’s time to get London back up and running August 20, 2020 “I’ve been getting on trains for six weeks and not once have I felt uncomfortable because I wasn’t able to socially distance,” says Square Mile construction firm Mace’s chief executive Mark Reynolds. The company, which is headquartered in Moorgate in the heart of the City, is slowly encouraging staff to return to work at the [...]
DEBATE: Should we accept that this is the end for business travel? August 20, 2020 Should we embrace change and accept that this is the end for business travel? Alethea Warrington, campaigner at climate charity Possible, says YES. The rise of virtual meetings hasn’t just given us an entire subculture of Zoom memes — it has made travelling long distances to attend meetings in person outdated and ridiculous. The pandemic [...]
John Laing profit dips on coronavirus and energy troubles August 20, 2020 Profit at infrastructure investor and manager John Laing fell in the first half because of the impact of coronavirus and poor renewable energy performance it said today. The company said its total return fell six per cent in the six months to 30 June. John Laing said its net asset value (NAV) per share fell [...]