Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 14 December 2018

Government

• Airport services merger receives provisional clearanceMenzies’ purchase of Airline Services given provisional green light following in-depth CMA investigation.

BBC News

• Luton Airport unveils £160m expansionThe upgrade has taken three years and aims to see passenger numbers double by up to 18m by 2020.
• Branson's Virgin Galactic reaches edge of spaceThe latest test flight by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic makes it to the edge of space and back.
• Travellers see pound close to dollar parityAirport currency exchanges are offering rates as low as $1.05 for a pound

The Guardian

• Virgin Galactic launches SpaceShipTwo to the edge of spaceSpacecraft launched on Thursday in test mission became first commercial US flight beyond the atmosphere since 2011

Times Online

• Virgin Galactic’s rocket plane reaches edge of space [subscription]Virgin Galactic took one giant leap yesterday as two test pilots flew its VSS Unity passenger rocket-ship to the edge of space for the first time.

City AM

• Luton airport gears up for boosted passenger numbers as it unveils £160m upgraded terminalLuton airport has unveiled its upgraded terminal after its three-year £160m redevelopment.

Birmingham Mail

• This airport lets you cuddle puppies to calm pre-flight nervesPassengers can cuddle puppies when they check-in to calm pre-flight nerves in an adorable new service

London Evening Standard

• Virgin Galactic rocket successfully reaches space for the first timeSir Richard Branson's tourist spacecraft has made its maiden voyage to space.

Aviation Industry

• LOT keeps an eye on Nordica Aviation Group developmentsLOT Polish Airlines (LOT) is monitoring developments at Estonia’s Nordic Aviation Group (Nordica), because of “business and operational challengesâ€� that could impact its equity investment. read more
• African aviation organization names new secretary generalThe African Civil Aviation Commission (â€�AFCAC), the body responsible for implementing intra-African Open Skies, has named former Ethiopian CAA director general Tefera Mekonnen as its next secretary general (SG). read more
• IATA forecasts 5% increase in global cargo revenue in 2019 IATA is signaling that global cargo revenue is forecast to rise more than 5% year-over-year to $116 billion in 2019, driven in part by a continued robust (albeit slower) global economic outlook as well as the recent substantial fall in oil prices. read more

Other News Sources

• Transport Secretary opens London Luton Airport’s £160m upgraded terminalThe Secretary of State for Transport has officially opened London Luton Airport’s (LLA) upgraded terminal building. Chris Grayling MP was given a first-hand look at the results of the £160m project, which took three years to complete and marks the biggest redevelopment in the airport’s 80-year history.