Travel news latest: Australia-UK flights ‘by November’, says industry chief

The Australian state of Victoria has reported its largest single-day rise in Covid instances this yr – the bulk in Melbourne – as most different areas within the state exited lockdown as we speak.

The shift to a method of residing with, fairly than suppressing, the virus after hitting nationwide vaccine protection of 70-80 per cent is a part of a four-stage nationwide reopening plan unveiled by the federal authorities in July. The nationwide vaccination charge for adults is at present at round 40 per cent.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, whose state as we speak reported 334 new regionally acquired instances and one dying, has mentioned lockdown restrictions in Melbourne is not going to be eased till 70 per cent of the grownup inhabitants has acquired no less than one vaccine dose, which is anticipated round September 23.

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, mentioned regardless of there being no present, “fast” evolution of latest coronavirus variants, the UK had a “ethical” obligation to assist vaccinate different international locations all over the world.

“We’re not seeing the fast evolution of latest variants which are threatening the world as we speak however that will properly occur sooner or later and it’s as more likely to emerge in vaccinated populations as unvaccinated populations,” he advised the BBC’s Right now programme.

“They key factor for vaccinating individuals in different international locations is as a result of they should be protected.

“There’s such an enormous threat, morally from our perspective, there’s a threat to commerce, there’s a threat to economies, but in addition these are our mates and colleagues who should be protected and we’re shedding them each day that goes by.”

EasyJet is on the point of a “as soon as in a lifetime” alternative to develop, its chief government Johan Lundgren mentioned on Thursday, because the price range airline rejected a takeover approach from rival Wizz Air. It has pledged to go it alone with a brand new £1.2bn warfare chest raised from shareholders. 

Sadly for him, opponents really feel the identical method because the trade reshapes post-pandemic. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s famously feisty boss, spoke in July of the corporate going through the “biggest development alternative” since its founding in 1984.

In an indication of the chance at hand, Wizz Air’s board earlier positioned a potential £100m bonus inside attain of boss Jozsef Varadi if he can greater than double the share worth over the subsequent 5 years. 

The pandemic has largely been a horror story for the aviation trade. With passengers compelled to remain at residence and borders closed, income has dried up and plenty of bosses have been compelled to go cap in hand to banks, shareholders and Governments. 

Richard Millard has more.

Following on from the under, a number of of the airways examined by Which? have responded to allegations.

An easyJet spokesman mentioned:

We regularly evaluation the data we equip our brokers with and supply them with ongoing and intensive coaching, and so we proceed with this to make sure that brokers are offering correct and constant recommendation to prospects.

Ryanair was, because it typically is, extra blunt, stating:

All Covid-19 journey necessities are absolutely set out on Ryanair’s web site, and are emailed to all passengers 24 hours previous to journey. We don’t count on our name centre brokers to be consultants on the a number of Covid journey restrictions, which apply throughout 40 totally different international locations.

Airlines are giving out incorrect info on Covid testing necessities that would see passengers turned away from flights, a shopper group has warned.

Which? mentioned a thriller purchasing train discovered most agents for British Airways (BA), easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair and Tui that they spoke with have been unable to offer clear, constant or correct solutions.

In almost half of the calls, Which? mentioned that the passenger would have been turned away from their flight if that they had adopted the data offered by the agent. If a traveller doesn’t meet the entry necessities and can’t board their flight, they haven’t any recourse to a refund.

The UK and devolved governments set the rules on testing for people’s return to the UK, whereas international governments determine the rules for UK passenger arrivals. Nonetheless, the airways go away it to floor employees to implement the foundations.

Charles Hymas has the story.

Before we start, right here’s a reminder of yesterday’s prime headlines:

• Covid threat on flights ‘lower than 0.1%’, real-world information reveals
• Scrap testing for double vaccinated travellers, urges former transport secretary
• EasyJet rejects takeover bid
• DfT working to scale back the price of Covid assessments, MPs advised
• UK arrivals have paid greater than £1bn for Covid assessments
• Christmas reserving for UK vacation leases up 480pc on final yr

Now, on with Friday’s information.