Airlines will be keen to see the successful tests of a new piece of equipment, designed to be fitted to aircraft, which is capable of detecting volcanic ash clouds and predict in which direction they are travelling. The Airborne Volcanic Object Imaging Detector, or AVOID, was recently taken up on a test plane over Sicily’s [...]
Sir Richard Branson has announced that Virgin Trains will win the 14-year contract for the west coast route because the company will concentrate on delivering the highest possible service to passengers, not just offer the largest amount of cash for the contract. He has warned the government not to repeat the debacle of the east [...]
As the festive season approaches, Carrentals.co.uk, the country’s premier car hire comparison site, is launching ’12 Days of Christmas’, a competition which will see 13 lucky winners walk away with a range of quality prizes. As well as a prize a day, the website will be celebrating Christmas by conducting a prize draw for everybody [...]
The annual Road Sense safety campaign has officially been announced by leading car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk, and Brake, the road charity. Each year a particular theme is chosen, and this year the campaign will focus on making drivers aware of how important it is to keep tyres and brakes in good condition. The message [...]
Europe’s largest travel operator TUI is preparing to publish its latest set of financial results. The figures will be revealed as number two tour company, Thomas Cook, fights for its own survival. According to Charles Stanley analyst, Douglas McNeil, TUI tends to be far better at coping with periods of weakened demand than its rival. [...]
Air France is conducting an investigation into why one of its jets was missing 30 screws after passing through maintenance in China. Xiamen-based company Taeco conducted a full service on the Airbus 340 aircraft, but failed to notice that the screws were missing from a protective panel. The firm said that it was also going [...]
In his autumn statement, Chancellor George Osborne said that the UK would be getting 35 new transport schemes to help revitalise the country’s economy. Projects outlined include spending around £400 million on developing the hard shoulders of motorways in order to ease congestion at times when traffic is at its busiest. This will involve improving [...]
As some 2 million public sector workers include themselves in a nationwide strike today, significant disruption is expected across most sectors. A number of airlines have already cancelled services into Heathrow as UK Border Agency staff are expected to join the industrial action. Heathrow operator BAA said it would be doing its best to implement contingency [...]
A new deal with the banks to secure additional financing confirmed by travel operator Thomas Cook has seen the value of its shares lift slightly. Originally, when the firm said it was looking to increase a loan from £100 million to £200 million, shares fell by 75 per cent. The price has now risen by [...]
Thomas Cook has been given approval by its banks to extend its latest loan. Lenders had already agreed to give a £100 million credit facility. Last week, the travel firm’s shares tumbled 75 per cent after it said it was looking for further financing. However, banks including Royal Bank of Scotland, HBSC, Barclays and Unicredit [...]
