Archive for August, 2011
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
Hopes that the contract to build trains for the Crossrail project will remain in Britain have been given a boost after French train manufacturer Alstom pulls out of the bidding process. Derby-based Bombardier is now one of the four remaining companies which will be asked by the government to bid to supply carriages for the £16 billion project.
The scheme will see west London connected to the east via a rail link which runs from Heathrow to Canary Wharf. The rival bidders for the contract to build the trains are Siemens, Hitachi of Japan and CAF of Spain. Industry experts still believe that the German train builder is the frontrunner as the rolling stock required will be very similar to that being provided for the Thameslink project by Siemens.
The government is currently reviewing the process by which contracts are awarded for such projects after it was condemned for giving the Thameslink project to Germany rather than Derby-based Bombardier. The manufacturer has said that the project could have saved British jobs and that it will now have to axe around half of its workforce.
The Department for Transport has said that it will not review the Thameslink contract in favour of Bombardier as it would cause legal problems as well as delay the completion of the project.
Shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, said that if the government was capable of reviewing the tender process for Crossrail then it should be able to reassess the Thameslink project in favour of a British based manufacturer.
Tags: Alstom, Bombardier, Crossrail, Heathrow, Hitachi, Maria Eagle, Siemens, Thameslink
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
Tuesday, August 30th, 2011
The government’s proposed adjustments to the planning laws have led to criticism from transport groups. Campaigners claim that the development of more business-parks on out of town sites will inevitably lead to more congestion on the roads, especially around rush-hour. The Campaign for Better Transport has produced research which says that the development of a single additional business park at suitable junctions on the M1 motorway would lead to traffic volumes increasing by 16 per cent.
The government has accused the group of greatly exaggerating the figures and of not understanding the reforms which are being proposed. However, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the National Trust have both said that by simplifying the planning laws the door will be left open for developers to march onto the greenbelt.
The government claims that by simplifying its planning policy it will help to encourage economic growth. However, Campaign for Better Transport’s Stephen Joseph pointed out that there was still no proof that adjusting the planning laws would stimulate growth.
He added that the campaign’s research suggested that the economy could actually end up being damaged as office developments begin to spring up along major roads and at the side of motorways. He went on to say that motorists were unlikely to appreciate sitting in the type of jams experienced on bank holiday weekends twice every working day.
Joseph agreed that there needed to be new development but not if it meant there would be more congestion on the roads and across other transport networks.
Tags: bank holiday, Campaign for Better Transport, greenbelt, motorways, National Trust, transport
Posted in Political News | Comments Off
Monday, August 29th, 2011
Air traffic to and from New York has been disrupted as Hurricane Irene brought rain and strong winds up the east coast of the US. The authorities are continuing to monitor the situation but have said it is unlikely that services will resume before later on Monday. Irene has now been given the status of tropical storm, but there is still the chance of flooding in some areas.
British Airways cancelled a number of flights to New York and said it remained in contact with airport authorities and would start flying again when it was sure it was safe to do so. The Port Authority in New York also said that flights were unlikely to begin properly until Monday afternoon.
BA said customers who had flights cancelled would be entitled to a full refund on their tickets. It added that anyone with a ticket dated to 30 August would be allowed to change their flight time to a later date. BA asked all of its customers to check with the airline before setting out for the airport.
According to Virgin Atlantic’s website, the storm has passed New York and the airports are now assessing any damage that may have occurred. Virgin has also requested that passengers’ double check with the airline before making a journey to the airport.
Continental and United are also assessing the situation in New York and said they hoped to have passengers up in the air again at some point on Monday depending on access and facility conditions at the airports.
Tags: airport, BA, British Airways, continental, Hurricane Irene, United, virgin atlantic
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Friday, August 26th, 2011
A Spanish entrepreneur is developing a balloon which he says will be capable of carrying passengers to a height of some 22 miles above the surface of the earth and allow them a unique view of the planet. Jose Lopez-Urdiales says his flying device will be capable of ascending into the stratosphere and offer a glimpse into the blackness of space and allow customers to watch a very unique sunrise.
The price of a ticket for the round trip will be £90,000, but Lopez-Urdiales points out that this is far cheaper than a rocket with the advantage of no noisy engines. The ‘bloon’ is slated to make its first manned trip to the edge of space in 2013. A pressurised capsule will be capable of accommodating two pilots and four passengers.
Customers will be able to spend three hours floating above the planet and it will take around an hour to ascend and an hour to return to the earth. Lopez-Urdiales said he believed that many people will not mid paying the price of a ticket for a unique experience. He added that it was not about prestige, but about the view.
He explained that the sun will look different at that altitude and that passengers will have a clear view of the stars in the daytime.
To make its descent the ‘bloon’ will deploy a sail. Once the craft hits a certain altitude a parachute is deployed to take the capsule safely back to earth. Details about the first flights are yet to be confirmed.
Tags: bloon, flights, rocket, space
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Thursday, August 25th, 2011
British Airways has asked its captains to try and keep a tighter rein on crew members when they are staying overnight in an overseas destination. The request comes as the airline receives an increasing number of complaints from hotel managers about the raucous behaviour of some of its crew.
According to a source at the flag-carrier, the problem is down to mixed fleet crews. These are made up of young recruits who find themselves flying to exotic destinations and being put up in some extremely expensive hotels. The source explained that with access to cheap alcohol under BA’s crew purchase scheme some were bound to submit to the temptation to have wild hotel room parties.
An internal memo was sent out by a BA manager recently explaining that unacceptable behaviour by off duty staff could force the airline to cancel routes. It explained that the airline had been contacted by the hotel in Nairobi it uses to accommodate staff complaining about crew behaviour. Because of security issues, this is the only hotel BA staff are permitted to stay at in Nairobi.
The manager said that if the hotel was not to renew its contract with BA then the carrier would have to seriously consider cancelling flights to the Kenyan capital because the route would become financially unviable. At the moment it is worth millions of pounds to the UK flag-carrier.
British Airways is also receiving complaints from some crew hotels in the States where the drinking age is 21. This means that younger crew members are more likely to opt for a hotel room party than try their luck at the local bar.
Tags: airline, British Airways, crew, hotel room, hotels
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
A passenger from the US has received an assault charge after he reportedly threatened to stab staff on a British Airways flight to Heathrow. According to witnesses on flight 288, 32-year-old Tim Bradley began spitting at the cabin crew and abusing fellow passengers after he was not served any more alcohol.
Fellow passengers claim that the mortgage consultant had already got through a number of glasses of beer and wine during the 10 hour journey to London from Phoenix, Arizona. After Bradley was informed that he would be having no more alcohol to drink his temper apparently flared to the point where he threatened to attack the crew with a shard of glass.
Lesley Lewis, a 31-year-old bank worker from Southampton, was also on the flight. According to Lewis, Bradley was stumbling around the cabin swearing and shouting. He then pushed the cabin crew manager into the galley and demanded to know why he was permitted no more to drink. Lewis said when Bradley returned to his seat he was holding a piece of broken glass.
Passengers became increasingly concerned after Bradley reportedly threatened to stab the pilots of the aircraft. The consultant was arrested immediately after the Boeing 747 landed at Heathrow on Saturday afternoon. He has appeared in court and has been remanded in custody. He is due to be sentenced at west London’s Isleworth Crown Court on 23 September.
A British Airways spokesman said that the airline would not tolerate its staff or its customers being abused in such a manner.
Tags: alcohol, assault, boeing, British Airways, cabin crew, Heathrow, Isleworth Crown Court, pilots
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
A passenger who was travelling with Austrian Airlines at the weekend had to be restrained and physically removed from the cabin after he started to experience air rage. A court has heard how Harald Albrecht, a 32-year-old Austrian librarian, started to become agitated after he drank some wine and took a sleeping pill.
The flight was en route to Vienna from Washington when the incident occurred and the pilot decided it was safest to divert to Shannon airport in Ireland and have Mr Albrecht taken off by the authorities. Having been refused more alcohol, Mr Albrecht apparently started abusing fellow passengers and flight attendants.
Although he allegedly lunged for a female member of the flight crew, he did not make contact. When he was taken off the aircraft Mr Albrecht was described as intoxicated and delusional. However, after he was allowed to sober up he was embarrassed and very remorseful.
Albrecht read from a statement telling the court that he wished to apologise for his behaviour to Austrian Airlines, the passengers on board and the cabin crew. He explained that he was nervous about travelling over the ocean and had taken a tablet, something he would not be doing again. He added that although he could not remember the incident he accepted the statements from witnesses.
Albrecht has no previous convictions, and his lawyer, Jenny Fitzgibbon, asked the judge not to convict her client as it would not be in the interests of his career. The judge agreed and imposed a fine of 400 euros.
Tags: air rage, alcohol, Austrian Airlines, cabin crew, sleeping pill
Posted in Travel News | Comments Off
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
The long running battle between car rental firms Avis and Hertz for control of smaller rival Dollar Thrifty could soon be over as a letter asking for best bids is sent out to the heads of both companies by Scott Thompson, Dollar’s chief executive. He said the continuing uncertainty was not in the best interests of anyone.
The bids are due at the beginning of October, and Thompson said it was unlikely that he would consider an offer which paced the interests of Dollar’s shareholders at risk because of antitrust investigations. Avis is currently waiting to see if its offer for Dollar will be given the approval of the regulators. Hertz has been asked to supply the Federal Trade Commission with additional information on its proposal.
In May, Hertz increased its bid for Dollar by 30 per cent to $2.1 billion. The figure is significantly higher than Avis’ offer of $1.7 billion. Doubts have been raised by analysts as to whether Avis will increase the offer because the company has just spent around $1 billion acquiring its namesake in Europe.
There are presently four car rental companies dominating the US market: Hertz, Avis, Dollar and Enterprise. This has led to concerns over whether further consolidation will significantly harm competition.
Dollar recently published its results for the second-quarter which were down on analysts’ predictions. Thompson said the company was looking forward to strong performance through 2012 and that a resolution of the situation with Avis and Hertz was a top priority.
Tags: Avis, car rental, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz
Posted in Car Rental News | Comments Off
Friday, August 19th, 2011
Cyrano de Bergerac star Gerard Depardieu was not allowed to continue on his journey from Paris to Dublin on board a CityJet flight after he reportedly urinated in the plane’s aisle. The Green Card actor apparently failed to comply with a request by cabin crew that he remain in his seat until after the flight had completed take off.
According to one of the other passengers, who described the situation on French radio, Mr Depardieu declared to other travellers ‘Je veux pisser’, before standing up and attempting to urinate into a drinks bottle. He is also said to have urinated on the aisle.
His offer to help clean up was declined and the aircraft returned to the Charles de Gaulle terminal where he disembarked. According to Mr Depardieu the incident had nothing to do with alcohol. He said that he had been eager to use the aircraft facilities because, before boarding, he had drunk a large amount of water.
The Air France subsidiary has confirmed that flight AF5010 did not take off as scheduled because one of the people on board had not remained in his seat as the pilot was making final preparations for take off. Having offloaded Mr Depardieu the plane continued its journey to Dublin.
Mr Depardieu was due to fly into Ireland to join other actors and crew currently working on the latest Asterix film. Shooting will take place in a number of locations including Wicklow, County Louth and County Clare. The actor’s agent said Mr Depardieu was declining to make a statement.
Tags: air france, Asterix, CityJet, Gerard Depardieu
Posted in Celebrity News | Comments Off
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
The days of students packing a backpack and heading off to see the world for a year before going to university appear to be over. The government’s proposed fee hike next year means that the amount of debt a student will graduate with if they defer their position to 2012 makes taking a year out untenable.
This year is the last in which those heading off to university will pay the £3,290 annual course fees. In 2012 this figure is set to triple in many cases. According to the service in charge of admissions, Ucas, the number of teenagers opting to defer has fallen from around 20,000 last year to just 6,000.
Many universities have said that they have been in contact with students they have offered a place to who have said they would like to take a gap year to explain the possible financial repercussions of doing so.
The University of West London’s recruitment head, Clare Beckett, said she believes that gap years are no longer feasible. She added that the university had called the small number of students who expressed an interest in deferring for a year to explain the increase in fees. She went on to say that only a few were still committed to a year out.
Students across the UK will receive their exam results today. It is also the start of the process of clearing where universities offer up any places which haven’t been filled to those who do not have a firm offer. This year, 350,000 students are due to scramble for just 40,000 available places.
Tags: clearing, gap year, Ucas, university, year out
Posted in Finance and Business | Comments Off
