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Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Network Rail has announced that it will be pleading guilty to charges brought against the company over the poor conditions of tracks near Potters Bar which caused a train to derail in 2002. The incident resulted in the deaths of six passengers and a pedestrian who was struck by debris from the crash. More than 70 others were injured.
Following a formal inquest into the incident last year, the Office of Rail Regulation decided to launch proceedings against Network Rail claiming it was in breach of laws governing health and safety.
A spokesman for the operator said the decision to enter a guilty plea had been made because Network Rail had agreed to take on all of Railtrack’s liabilities and responsibilities after taking over the firm in 2002.
The Office of Rail Regulation has said it may now bring a prosecution against the company which was at the time responsible for maintenance of the Potters Bar tracks, Jarvis. Although the firm was due to turn up to the court to face a charge of failing in its health and safety commitments, there was no representative present as Network Rail said it intended to plead guilty.
A lawyer working on behalf of the families of the victims, Louise Christian, said there was still a great deal of anger about how long the whole process had taken. She added that there were also a number of concerns over whether the issue of rail safety had been properly dealt with. She went on to say that the most likely punishment for Network rail would be a fine.
Tags: health and safety, Jarvis, Network Rail, Office of Rail Regulation, Potters Bar, Railtrack, train
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Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Asia is expected to lead the growth of the world’s airline industry over the next few years according to a statement made by the International Air Travel Association in Singapore recently. The body claims that of the 3.3 billion passengers expected to take to the air by 2014, 30 per cent will come from the Asia-Pacific.
According to Giovanni Bisignani, chief of IATA, by 2014 one billion people will choose to get on a plane to travel from the Asia-Pacific. He added that the largest markets for passengers would be Japan, Hong Kong and China, with the latter introducing the most new flyers.
In terms of market value, four out of the five biggest airlines on the globe have their hubs in Asia – Air China, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific and China Southern. According to Bisignani, airline industry focus continues to move to the east. In 2009 North America lost its position as the number one aviation market when the title was handed to the Asia-Pacific.
Where Asia appears to by thriving it is not such good news for airlines in the US and Europe where growth is weak. According to Bisignani, the reason for this is not just that the markets are mature, but also because economic recovery has been sluggish.
Growth rates are being dampened by austerity measure, high levels of unemployment and consumer debts, according to the IATA boss. He added that the future of the industry lay in the hands of emerging markets such as India and China.
Tags: Air China, airlines, cathay pacific, China Southern, Giovanni Bisignani, IATA, Singapore Airlines
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Tuesday, February 8th, 2011
As the political and social unrest continues to affect travel to major cities across Egypt, some tour operators are maintaining that the situation remains stable in the Red Sea resorts.
Tui, the UK’s largest operator and owner of First Choice and Thomson, has issued a statement saying the atmosphere is calm and holidaymakers continue to go about enjoying themselves as usual.
The statement went on to say that for reasons like a lack of unemployment and an extremely low crime rate, the troubles afflicting the rest of the country are unlikely to spread. Thomas Cook has also said its customers are continuing to enjoy their time in the region.
According to Middle East and North African Travel Association boss, Peter Lilley, the Red Sea should be viewed as an area quite separate to the rest of Egypt. He explained that it is an area especially designed for tourism and was capable of operating independently of the mainland. His only concern was that if the unrest was to continue, there may be some supply problems from the rest of the country. He added that it was likely to take a while for tourism to recover from the troubles.
Although Egypt has soared in popularity with tourists over the last few years, the recent unrest is likely to dent the confidence of those wishing to travel to the country. According to Skyscanner.net, an online booking agent, interest in flights to resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh has dropped by around 60 per cent for the summer.
Tags: egypt, First Choice, Red Sea, Skyscanner, thomas cook, thomson, Tui
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Enterprise has committed $150 million over the next half-decade to water and energy efficiency at existing locations. The car hire provider said the investment in green building was part of its Enterprise Sustainable Construction Protocol and hopes that the move will provide it with savings of around 35 per cent.
Parent company of the car rental firm, Enterprise Holdings, said that within the next five years it hoped to see a significant return on its investment. The firm’s director of corporate sustainability, Lee Broughton, added that the green initiative would have an impact on existing locations as well as planned developments.
In the first year, Broughton went on to say, Enterprise will be targeting around 1,000 projects which will consist of established Enterprise sites as well as retrofitted locations. The company is aiming to invest a two per cent premium in materials to retrofit and build locations to the standards outlined in its ESCP.
Enterprise aims to cover seven areas which include more efficient use of water, better recycling practices, improving energy efficiency and incorporating sustainable materials into future building projects. The returns for the investment should become apparent within five years, according to Broughton.
Enterprise’s fleet management centre is already certified by LEED and its car hire location at O’Hare International in Chicago, which was opened in the middle of last year, has been awarded the Silver standard by LEED – a certification awarded by the Green Building Council in the US. Those interested in finding out more about Enterprise’s green initiatives can do so by taking a tour of the company’s website.
Tags: car hire, car rental, Enterprise, Enterprise Holdings, ESCP, Green Building Council, LEED, O'Hare International
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Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Middle Eastern carrier, Emirates Airlines, will walk away with the prize for 2011 Airline of the Year at next month’s Air Transport World’s gala dinner. The magazine, which comes out monthly and discusses the latest news in the industry, voted Emirates the best in the world for a combination of reasons including continued commitment to customer service, an excellent safety record, and an impressive ability to publish profits year after year.
Emirates launched in 1985, and since then has built itself into one of the largest and most successful carriers on the planet. The airline’s base in Dubai has been transformed into one of the most important hubs for international airline travel. Emirates continue to search for ways to reduce carbon emissions; was the first airline to install seatback entertainment for all and its fleet of A380s now have showers in first-class.
The prize for Regional Airline of the Year has been scooped by Air Nostrum, the Spanish based carrier. The airline has displayed a superb commitment to safety while managing to deliver outstanding customer service. The magazine’s editors were particularly impressed with the way the airline had managed to weather the financial downturn.
Virgin America has been singled out to receive the Passenger Service Award. The carrier impressed the judges with its ground-breaking cabin design which includes leather seats, mood lighting and an extremely comprehensive in-flight entertainment system.
Alaska Airlines will pick up the gong for Airline Technology Leadership because of innovations in customer service technology, safety and cockpit design. It is the second time the carrier has won the award.
Tags: A380, Air Nostrum, Air Transport World, airline, Alaska Airlines, Dubai, Emirates, entertainment, Virgin America
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Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
To celebrate a three-year agreement which has just been signed between Hertz and Etihad Airways, both the airline and the vehicle supplier are launching a competition which they hope will draw a great deal of interest from their customers. The competition is open to those flying with the Middle Eastern carrier who decide to rent a car with Hertz.
The lucky winner will walk away with two tickets for return flights either to Europe or to Australia. Accommodation for five-nights will also be provided in the luxurious Relais & Chateaux and a car will be laid on for the length of the stay from the Hertz Prestige Collection.
As well as being eligible for the competition, Etihad customers who choose to pick up a Hertz rental as part of their travel package will automatically earn an additional 500 Guest Miles with the airline. Etihad’s website will now have a list of all available Hertz vehicles and a new microsite will provide simple booking options. Those booking their airline tickets through one of the carrier’s call centres will also have the option of booking a vehicle at the same time.
Michel Taride, Hertz’s president, said the new tie-up was extremely exciting. He added that Etihad Airways and Hertz are two of the world’s leading travel brands and would now be able to offer joint customers an even better service as well as unbeatable value wherever they were travelling to.
He added that at all destinations served by Etihad, Hertz would now be providing superior access to its premium products.
Tags: Etihad Airways, Guest Miles, Hertz, Prestige Collection, Relais & Chateaux, rent a car
Posted in Car Rental News | Comments Off
Tuesday, January 11th, 2011
A Portuguese model has been arrested in New York on suspicion that he murdered the celebrity television journalist he was travelling with. Renato Seabra, a 21-year-old from Cantanhede, has been held in a hospital following his arrest and has reportedly undergone a psychiatric evaluation.
On Friday night, Carlos Castro, 65, was found dead in the room he was sharing with Seabra at the New York Times Square InterContinental hotel. According to subsequent reports from the medical examiner he had died after being bludgeoned on the head as well as strangled. The broadcaster had also been castrated.
According to a friend, editor of the Luso-Americano Luis Pires, he was aware that there may have been some tension between the two as their holiday was coming to an end. He added that the pair had visited New York with the intension of seeing a number of Broadway musicals and to see in the New Year in Times Square. He went on to say that nothing had indicated that something so terrible was going to happen.
Seabra had recently appeared on the show Pursuit of a Dream back in Portugal where contestants compete to become models. He did not manage to win, but was given a contract with the agency founded by Fatima Lopes, a fashion designer and judge on the show.
Although a number of friends in New York have confirmed that Seabra and Castro were an item, the accusation has been refuted by Seabra’s mother who claims they were not lovers and that her boy is heterosexual.
Tags: broadway, Carlos Castro, Fatima Lopes, hotel, intercontinental, New Year, New York, Times Square
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Tuesday, January 4th, 2011
As the New Year break came to an end and many returned to work, some of the country experienced fresh snow falls. A dusting of snow fell across Northern Ireland and some areas of Scotland. Other areas in the north are being warned to expect more snow throughout the day.
Areas of higher ground in regions including south-west Scotland, the Borders, Yorkshire and north-west England are being told to expect heavy snow by the Met Office. The rest of England is in for some rain, according to forecasters.
It will be warmest in the west of the country and the zero temperatures experienced overnight are expected to rise above freezing during the day. MeteoGroup forecaster, Aisling Creevey, said that even though temperatures would rise, the first week of the new year is expected to be an unsettled one with rain and high winds.
In Scotland, she said, areas such as South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway should brace for several centimetres of snow which will later turn to sleet and rain. Because a warm front is being approached by a cold front, snow can be expected on areas of higher ground, she added.
Although temperatures will not be as severe as they have been for much of the festive period, almost all areas of the UK are in for some drizzle over the coming week. Those hoping to see the solar eclipse have been warned that this might be unlikely in many areas of the country as conditions are expected to be cloudy.
Tags: Met office, MeteoGroup, rain, snow, weather, wind
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Tuesday, December 28th, 2010
The Civil Aviation Authority has revealed that there was a drop in the demand for premium class airline tickets during the recession of nearly 25 per cent. In 2008, when the banking crisis began, there was a drop in business class travel on international routes from and to the UK of 4.6 per cent. By 2009, this figure had risen to 22.2 per cent. Although there are now signs of recovery, the CAA said travel dropped 28 per cent on a year earlier for the first half of this year.
Although the financial troubles were obviously a massive contributing factor, the first half of 2010 was marred by airline staff strikes and an ash cloud which grounded planes across Europe for close to a week.
Last year saw services between the UK and Europe most severely affected with a drop in travel of 25 per cent. There was also less demand for travel between the UK and America with numbers reduced by 20 per cent.
Airline revenues were severely dented, not only by fewer people choosing to book airline seats, but by business customers saving money on short-haul journeys by choosing to fly with budget carriers or opting for an economy class ticket. According to the CAA, and British Airways boss Willie Walsh, there is little reason for this trend to change even though the world’s economies are beginning to recover.
Director of regulations at the CAA, Harry Bush, said it was not yet clear how the money saving tactics employed by many firms during the downturn would continue to affect aviation travel.
Tags: airline tickets, ash cloud, banking crisis, British Airways, CAA, Civil Aviation Authority, strikes, willie walsh
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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
Travellers planning to fly home for Christmas from Heathrow Airport could be in for a miserable time as the airport’s operator warns delays and cancellations should be expected beyond 25 December. BAA has said it will not be able to operate any more than a third of all services until at least Wednesday; explaining that it did not have the resources to keep more than two runways operational.
BAA’s chief executive, Colin Matthews, said the airport had been over optimistic about how quickly it would be able to clear ice and snow from the aircraft stands. Transport minister, Philip Hammond, said BAA had also made a mistake in trying to fly a full service on Saturday. He explained that there had been too many aircraft on the ground as the snow started to fall and this caused inevitable congestion.
An aviation source at the airport warned that stocks of de-icer for the runways were running low and that the Department for Transport needed to be aware of this.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, has expressed outrage that in this day and age, workers are unable to pull together, grab a few shovels and clear a bit of snow from the runways and beneath planes.
Former BA manager, John Strickland, has warned that the airline is going to have trouble clearing its passenger backlog before Christmas as any flights which are able to take off are already likely to be fully booked. Hammond said it was clear that something had to be done about the unacceptable state of affairs.
Tags: aviation, BA, baa, boris johnson, Christmas, Colin Matthews, heathrow airport, John Strickland, Philip Hammond
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