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

Tuesday, 31 March 2020

BBC News

• Coronavirus: EasyJet grounds entire fleet of planes due to virusThe budget airline says it cannot currently give a date for when it will restart commercial flights.
• Coronavirus: Why are planes still flying?A number of global airlines are still running passenger flights amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• Coronavirus: Airport handlers at risk of collapseAviation services companies are calling on the government for urgent assistance due to the pandemic.
• Coronavirus: American Airlines to seek $12bn in state aidThe US carrier says it will ask for government help to survive during the coronavirus downturn.

Financial Times

• Aircraft lessors cheered by US airline bailoutUp to half carriers seeking rent relief on planes because of coronavirus standstill
• UK to spend up to £75m chartering flights for stranded BritonsAircraft to repatriate ‘tens of thousands’ affected by coronavirus lockdowns 

The Guardian

• UK announces £75m airlift plan to rescue Britons stranded abroadDominic Raab announces unprecedented operation involving charter flights and seats on commercial airlinesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage. The government has announced a £75m airlift operation to rescue hundreds of thousands of British nationals stranded abroad because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Times Online

• Flights from coronavirus hotspots continue to arrive in UK [subscription]Dozens of flights a day are still landing in the UK from coronavirus hotspots such as New York despite a collapse in the aviation industry.
• Mayday at Easyjet as Stelios threatens to sack directors [subscription]The founder of Easyjet has threatened to oust the directors of the company unless they cancel an order for £4.5 billion of aircraft from Airbus.

Reuters News

• Cabin crew swap aircraft aisles for hospitals in UK's coronavirus fightBritain's temporary hospitals are seeking volunteers from airlines, calling on cabin crew members who are currently grounded to use their first-aid skills and calm manner to help get the new Nightingale hospitals up and running.

Daily Express

• Heathrow to become ‘medical supply hub’ to fight CoronavirusHEATHROW AIRPORT is set to be turned into a medical supply hub in the government's wartime effort against coronavirus.

Mail Online

• Virgin Australia goes into a trading haltThe Australian airline, which was struggling financially before the pandemic, is expected to make an announcement later on Tuesday, after trading in the company was paused at 9.52am.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Jet2 among airlines set to fly Britons home JET2 is among the airlines who will take part in a £75 million airlift to get stranded Britons home.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus A350 with missile defence system set to be Angela Merkel's new 'Air Force One'The special aircraft known as 'Regierungsflieger' has come out of the Airbus paint shop
• EasyJet grounds all planes due to Covid-19 - how to get your money backThe airline said all of its 344 planes would be parked

London Evening Standard

• British Airways suspends all flights in and out of Gatwick amid coronavirus crisisBritish Airways is suspending all flights in and out of Gatwick, as airlines continue to battle the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the aviation industry.
• Stranded Brits being sold 'more vague promises' of flights home, Emily Thornberry saysRead our live updates on coronavirus HERE Coronavirus: The symptoms
• EasyJet grounds entire fleet of aircraft due to coronavirus outbreakFollow our live updates here Coronavirus: the symptoms

Other Regional Press

• Government announces new plan to get stranded Brits homeBritish Airways, Virgin, Jet2 and easyJet to fly tens of thousands of Brits home in new arrangement

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Coronavirus: EasyJet grounds entire fleet of planes due to virusEasyJet has grounded its entire fleet of planes and said it cannot give a date for when they will restart. The airline said it had made the move due to the