Uber used a secret technology called Greyball to hide from regulators and avoid being shut down March 4, 2017 The blows just keep coming for Uber. It's now been revealed that for years the ride-hailing app has deceived regulators in areas where its services were resisted or banned by authorities by using a secret technology. Greyball, a programme that uses data from the Uber app and other technologies, was created to protect the firm from "violations [...]
Peugeot maker PSA has reached a deal to buy Opel and Vauxhall March 4, 2017 French carmaker PSA has closed on a deal with General Motors (GM) to buy the firm's loss-making Opel division, which includes Britain's Vauxhall, according to reports. The two groups announced today they will hold a press conference Monday morning – but they didn't specify a subject. Sources told Reuters PSA's board approved the deal yesterday and will publicly announce it [...]
BMW workers are set to be balloted for strike action over a pensions row March 3, 2017 Workers at BMW's Mini and Rolls-Royce car plants are being balloted for strike action once again over plans to close the firm's UK final salary pension scheme. The German carmaker wants to close two final salary schemes and consolidate all staff to a less generous provision that new starters have been on since 2014. The dispute began [...]
Airlines braced for flight disruption next week as strike action by French air traffic controllers looms March 3, 2017 Airlines are braced for flight disruption next week as French air traffic controllers gear up for five days of strike action. Airport workers are planning to walk out from the morning of Monday 6 March to the evening of Friday 10 March, which will affect flights using southern and western French airspace, including many flights departing from the [...]
British Airways cabin crew start fresh week-long walkout in dispute with airline over “poverty pay” March 3, 2017 British Airways has remained bullish about flying all customers to their destinations as cabin crew members start the first day of a fresh week-long strike in the ongoing row over "poverty pay". BA said the vast majority of flights to and from London Heathrow will operate as normal, but said a "very small number" of flights will be merged [...]
Taxi for Uber: High Court rules in favour of TfL saying private hire drivers will have to pass a written English exam March 3, 2017 Uber has lost a key part of its High Court case against Transport for London (TfL), after a High Court ruled private hire drivers will be forced to pass a written English exam. The firm did though, win other parts of its case, so it won't have to provide a telephone call centre for passengers open 24 hours [...]
Great Western electrification might miss new 2018 target and £2.8bn budget, MPs warn March 3, 2017 The Great Western electrification project might miss its revised delivery target of December 2018 and £2.8bn budget, MPs have warned. The government and Network Rail's failings on the cost estimations and planning of the project throws into doubt their ability to manage similar projects, the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) said today. The estimated cost of [...]
Wizz Air passenger numbers are flying after airline announced new UK base at London Luton last month March 2, 2017 Low-cost Hungarian carrier Wizz Air has announced a bumper rise in passenger numbers for last month. Passenger numbers rose 21.8 per cent to 1.7m compared to the same month last year, while load factor, gauging how full the planes are, rose from 86.4 per cent in February 2016 to 91.9 per cent. On a rolling 12 [...]
Getting Brexit ready? German rail operator revives plans for high-speed London to Frankfurt trains March 2, 2017 Express trains from London to Frankfurt might be on the agenda sooner than you'd think. High-speed trains from the capital to Germany's financial centre could be launched as early as 2020 in a move that would help the UK solidify links to mainland Europe in the wake of Brexit. According to The Times, the German rail [...]
Cobham unveils £500m rights issue as profits fall by a third March 2, 2017 Troubled defence giant Cobham today announced a £500m rights issue – as it unveiled a 37 per cent fall in pre-tax profits. The aerospace company, the inventor of air-to-air refuelling, said underlying pre-tax profits fell to £175.2m in the year to the end of December, from £280.4m last year. Revenues fell to £1.94bn, from £2.07bn, [...]