Archive for August, 2010
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
As of October, Cardiff will be the latest UK city to welcome City Car Club to its streets. According to Cardiff council the £120,000 scheme will help to greatly reduce the congestion being caused by privately owned vehicles. Initially, 10 low-carbon vehicles will be introduced into parking spaces around the city centre. These vehicles will then be made available to members of the scheme for rental by the hour.
Signing up for membership is done via the City Car Club website. Members will then receive a card capable of unlocking any of the car club vehicles. By entering a pin number to an on-board key-pad drivers will get access to the car’s keys. After using the car drivers are required to return it to its original parking space.
Coun Delme Bowen, Cardiff’s transport chief, claims that just one car club vehicle is enough to replace 20 privately owned vehicles in the city. He added that he hoped the new short term rental cars would not only free up parking spaces and reduce traffic jams but also encourage families to rethink their need for a second, or maybe even a first, vehicle.
Coun Bowen went on to say that those who took part in car club schemes were more likely to use public transport for other journeys.
City Car Club’s managing director, James Finalyson, said he was extremely excited about being allowed the opportunity to run Cardiff’s first car club. He added that City Car was the most experienced club in the UK, with operations already established in Bath, Bristol, London and Edinburgh.
Tags: car club, Cardiff, City Car Club, congestion, rental cars, traffic jams
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Monday, August 30th, 2010
Iberia, the Spanish carrier which signed a deal with British Airways to form one of the largest airline groups in the world in April, has declared a return to profit. Iberia announced a €31 million gain for the second quarter of 2010 compared to a €73 million loss for the same period a year earlier.
For the first half of this year Iberia also said it had been able to cut operating costs by almost 6 per cent. It did this by reducing capacity on some routes, establishing ways of stripping out unnecessary expenditure and reducing its fuel bill. South American destinations have also been an area of growth for the carrier.
The airline said that it had managed to increase revenues in the international market where business travel was showing signs of improvement. However, negative results were being seen in the domestic market which is still struggling.
As with many other European carriers, Iberia felt the effects of the ash cloud which settled over Europe earlier in the year grounding planes for nearly a week. Although Iberia remained active on some routes, including Madrid-New York, it claims the volcanic cloud cost it in the region of €20 million.
The proposed merger between Iberia and BA is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Although both airlines will still operate under their own liveries, the new company is to be called International Airlines Group. It will be based in London and BA shareholders are to retain 55 per cent.
Tags: airline, ash cloud, BA, British Airways, Iberia, International Airlines Group
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Friday, August 27th, 2010
As Britain gears up for the August bank holiday weekend, the Highways Agency claims it will be making life easier for those who take to the country’s roads by either completing or suspending miles of roadworks. It said that by Friday it would have finished 280 miles of traffic works at 83 locations and intends to clear lane restrictions and works at another 24 locations.
Work is not set to resume until midnight on Monday at the very earliest. The Agency will be deploying traffic officers who will be on hand to tackle any problems should they arise. Information will also be provided by the Highways Agency for those wishing to plan their bank holiday travels in detail.
Philip Hammond, the UK’s Transport Secretary, said 98 per cent of the country’s roads would be free of roadworks and speed restrictions. However, lane and speed limits would have to remain in force at 32 sites around the country where it would be dangerous to lift them.
Last night there was some disruption caused on the M5 close to Exeter due to a pile-up. Emergency services were deployed and the road had to be closed in both directions. No fatalities were reported, but a number of people were cut out of their vehicles and taken by helicopter to hospital, some with serious injuries, according to reports.
Good news has been delivered by UK weather forecasters who believe the weather over the next three days will be mostly fine. On Monday, in some areas, temperatures are set to hit 20C.
Tags: bank holiday, Highways Agency, holiday, Philip Hammond, roadworks, travels, weather
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Las Vegas hotel-casino, the Cosmopolitan, has announced a deal with Marriott Hotels which will give it access to the group’s massive database of customers. The new hotel, which is still under construction, will become part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a group of high end, independent hotels.
When completed, the Cosmopolitan will provide visitors to Las Vegas with nearly 3,000 rooms and is the only member of the Autograph Collection to provide on-site gambling options. Chief executive of the Cosmopolitan, John Unwin, said the deal with Marriott would give the hotel direct marketing access to customers of a range of brands including Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance.
Marriott International’s chief executive, JW Marriott, said the deal would mean those customers who travelled to Las Vegas and did not book into a Marriott hotel would now have the option of booking into a Marriott affiliate.
Arne Sorenson, chief operating officer at Unwin, Marriott and Marriott International would not comment on the precise details of the deal but confirmed that Marriott would be receiving a percentage of the hotels revenue. This is typically between five and six percent of the revenue earned on each room, however the rate can vary, according to Sorenson. He also confirmed that Marriott would not be taking any the Cosmopolitan’s gambling revenue.
The Cosmopolitan has cost $3.9 billion and will have a gambling floor roughly 100,000-square-foot in size. It is owned by Deutsche Bank and plans to open its doors on 15 December even though around a third of its rooms will not be completed until after this date.
Tags: Autograph Collection, casino, Cosmopolitan, gambling, hotel, Las Vegas, Marriott, Ritz Carlton
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Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Dubai based Emirates has confirmed that it intends to grow its fleet by two passenger planes every month over the next 12 years as its struggles to keep up with the demand for seats. Sir Maurice Flanagan, the carrier’s executive vice-chairman said the coming years would see the airline grow substantially.
At recent major air shows, Emirates has made the announcement that it has placed orders with Airbus for 32 of its A380 super jumbos and with Boeing for 30 of its 777-300ERs. The orders have a combined list price of more than $20 billion. Emirates also has orders worth a combined $48 billion for 18 more Boeing 777s, 70 A350s and 48 A380s as well as 7 Boeing air freighters.
For the fiscal year ending 30 March, Emirates announced a profit increase of 416 per cent on a year earlier of $964 million. In October the airline will turn 25 and this year is the 22nd in which it has been able to announce a profit.
Flanagan told reporters at the airline’s headquarters in Dubai that even with the increased capacity two new aircraft per month will introduce; the carrier would struggle to meet passenger demand. He explained that territories such as the US and Australia still offered tremendous opportunities for growth. Flanagan added that cities such as St Petersburg, Chicago and Kiev would be better served by the airline, if only it had more aircraft.
Flanagan went on to say the only thing theoretically in the way of continual growth was the capacity of the airline’s hub, Dubai International.
Tags: airbus, aircraft, airline, boeing, Dubai International, Emirates, passenger, super jumbo
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Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
British drivers are being warned that if they are planning to take their cars out of the country when they go on holiday they need to be aware of more than simply what side of the road they are required to drive on. A recent Sainsbury’s Car Insurance survey suggests that many motorists are not fully aware of the differing driving laws which are in place in the countries they intend to visit.
Of those responding to the poll, 15 per cent were not planning to take a warning triangle with them to set up in the road in the event of a breakdown. Not carrying or erecting a warning triangle is illegal in the Netherlands, Spain and France.
A third of Britons also admitted that they intended to drive on French roads without having a reflective jacket with them. This is also breaking French road laws which state that all drivers must wear one in the event of a breakdown.
Sainsbury’s Car Insurance also found that many motorists were not aware that using electronic devices to detect the radar emitted by speed traps was illegal in a number of European countries including Switzerland and Belgium.
Manager of car insurance at Sainsbury’s, Ben Tyte, said it was extremely important that drivers taking their vehicles overseas brush up on local driving laws. He said that it was especially important for those crossing borders whilst in Europe because the laws changed from country to country. Carrying the correct insurance policy is another top tip.
Tags: breakdown, drivers, driving laws, motorists, reflective jacket, Sainsbury's Car Insurance, speed trap, warning triangle
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Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Far from ending the war on motorists, the government may be instructing councils to look at ways of increasing revenues through the country’s drivers, in particular, by introducing a new parking tax on those who use a vehicle to get into work. According to an investigation by the Daily Telegraph, city councils may be planning to impose levies of as much as £250 per year, or higher, on those using a parking space at work.
New charges could have an effect on around 10 million drivers every day. A new parking charge will be bad news for those who live in remote areas and have no other choice but to drive to their place of work.
A levy on parking has been condemned by many as yet another government stealth tax. Originally touted as a way of reducing CO2 emissions and congestion on the roads, the levy is now being seen as a way for councils to bump up their revenues.
Arup transport analyst, Hilary Holden, said the squeeze on council funding will mean that many around the country will now be pushing the idea of work place parking levies. Arup is currently helping a number of councils work out how best to implement such schemes.
A spokesman for motoring organisation, the AA, said the government did not appear to be ending its war on the motorist as had been promised. He added that the new levy on motorists who needed to park their cars at work was actually more like the government opening another battle front.
Tags: AA, drivers, emissions, government, motoring, motorists, parking space, parking tax
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Known only to a handful of people, the true identity of one of motoring’s most illusive personalities could soon become known to all, as The Stig prepares to publish his autobiography. Top Gear’s stunt driver has reportedly already written a draft of his memoirs and also found a publisher.
If he does decide to go ahead and reveal himself, The Stig could find himself in a legal battle with the BBC. He is contractually forbidden from telling anyone who he really is, including the celebrities he trains to take part in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car section of the show.
Lawyers say that although the BBC would have a case against The Stig based on clauses of his contract, he would also have a strong case based on basic human rights. Head of media law at the firm Taylor Wessing, Niri Shan, said article 10 of the Human Rights Act gave The Stig the right to free speech.
According to sources, The Stig is not happy about the fact that the other presenters on the show are able to make lucrative publishing deals, as well as endorse products, because they are so well known with the public. Top Gear is currently one of the most popular television shows around the world.
The identity of The Stig is a much mooted subject. Racing personalities such as former Formula One champion Damon Hill and former Formula Three driver Ben Collins have been touted as possible candidates. Last year Michael Schumacher was unmasked as The Stig on the show, but it was later confirmed that it was just a hoax.
Tags: BBC, Ben Collins, Damon Hill, Formula One, free speech, human rights, Michael Schumacher, The Stig, Top Gear
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Thursday, August 19th, 2010
Car hire firm Sixt and Kuwait’s Wataniya Airways have signed a deal which will mean greater rewards for frequent flyers who rent vehicles through Sixt at various Wataniya destinations. Members of the airline’s Diwan programme will now earn between 500 and 1,000 miles every time the rent a Sixt vehicle.
Loyalty marketing manager for Wataniya Airways, Hisham Seifeddine, said that as well as getting additional points, passengers can get discounts across a range of Sixt rental vehicles. Those who have signed up to the Purple and Silver loyalty programmes will get a 10 per cent discount, and Gold members will be rewarded with a 15 per cent off the price of their chosen hire car.
Members of Wataniya Diwan Gold will also have the option of upgrading their vehicles when renting through Sixt. Wataniya’s chief commercial officer, Lee Shave, said the airline was constantly committed to finding innovative ways of giving its passengers an improved service. He added that by partnering with Sixt, the carrier could now offer loyalty club members the chance to hire discounted rental vehicles and the opportunity of earning extra rewards when they do so.
Shave went on to say that the agreement covered a number of destinations including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Italy and Austria.
Other benefits of becoming a member of the Wataniya Diwan loyalty programme include priority check in at the airline’s first class counters. Those wishing to sign up can do so, quickly and easily, at the Wataniya website.
Tags: car hire, discounts, Diwan, frequent flyers, hire car, loyalty club, rental vehicles, Sixt, Wataniya Airways
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Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
New research by car hire firm, Holiday Autos, suggests a quarter of all couples will end up having an argument about the best way of packing their belongings into the holiday rental vehicle, before the holiday even begins. According to the study, men tend to pack more than their partners when travelling to the beach. Nearly one third admitted they have had to leave some of their luggage behind at the airport because it would not fit into the rental car. Only 17 per cent of women admitted to having been in the same situation.
When booking a car for the holiday, 82 per cent of men felt it was their job. However, according to Holiday Autos, many males prefer to concentrate on the make of vehicle and the size of its engine, rather than how much luggage space it provided.
Managing director of Holiday Autos, Stuart Nassos, said many people seem to ignore the fact that when booking a vehicle for their holiday it is likely to be smaller than the car they use when they are at home and therefore tend to bring more luggage than will safely fit.
Nassos advised all customers to check the Holiday Autos Car Features Guide before deciding on which model to book. He added that the car should either be big enough to accommodate a holidaymaker’s luggage or the amount of luggage should be reduced to fit in the car.
According to the research 18 per cent of men admit that they have returned to the car hire desk in order to upgrade to a larger vehicle to accommodate their luggage.
Tags: airport, Car Features Guide, car hire, hire desk, Holiday Autos, luggage, rental car, rental vehicle
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