Archives: April 2010 cargo news
The News stories below are cargo / freight related stories which made the headlines in April 2010 (other archived months are shown at the bottom of the page).
For all the latest Cargo News, click on the link on the left-hand side menu. ukimports.org
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20/04/10 - Iceland volcano cloud: The economic impact
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The cloud of volcanic ash drifting across Europe is continuing to make much of the continent a no-fly zone this week.
It is still unclear how long that disruption will last, but the longer flights are grounded, the greater the impact will be on businesses and the wider economy. ukimports.org
20/04/10 - North East to take rescue flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A number of incoming flights sent to rescue people stranded abroad could be redirected to Newcastle Airport as runways elsewhere remain closed.
The airport said it was hoping to receive 11 flights from various destinations later.
UK airspace has been restricted since Thursday because of volcanic ash from Iceland.
Despite earlier hopes of a limited service to and from Durham Tees Valley Airport, no flights have operated.
Newcastle has been operating a limited service to Aberdeen, while some flights have taken off empty to other destinations to bring holidaymakers back to the UK. ukimports.org
20/04/10 - Flight ban for most English airports extended
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)The flight ban will remain across most of England until at least Wednesday, air traffic control body Nats said.
It hoped to resume flights but further concerns about a new volcanic ash cloud meant restrictions were extended until 0100 BST on Wednesday.
The cloud, from the volcano eruption in Iceland, has spread over the UK and poses a threat for aircraft.
Newcastle Airport is operating some flights and its airspace will remain open until 0100 BST on Wednesday. ukimports.org
20/04/10 - New ash cloud causes more flight chaos across England
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A new ash cloud is spreading towards the UK, causing more cancelled flights at most of England's airports.
Newcastle Airport is operating some flights but other airports remain closed due to the continuing volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Air traffic control body Nats said the airspace above parts of northern England would be open from 1300 BST to 1900 BST.
But there will be no flights before 1900 BST for the rest of England. ukimports.org
20/04/10 - Some UK flights resume after volcanic ash disruption
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Some domestic UK flights have taken off after five days of disruption but a second volcanic ash cloud from Iceland has hit plans to reopen airspace.
Opportunities to run flights at many UK airports have been short-lived, and only a few flights have taken place.
Airlines said the restrictions were an overreaction, but the government said safety was its absolute priority.
Air traffic control body Nats said airspace in the north of the UK would remain open until 0100 on Wednesday. ukimports.org
19/04/10 - British Airways seeks compensation for ash chaos
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways has said it has asked the European Union and the UK government for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.
It also wants UK airspace restrictions eased after its test flight through the no-fly zone revealed "no variations in... normal operational performance".
Chief executive Willie Walsh called on the government to adopt new policies that would "allow us to resume flying".
The airline estimates that the crisis is costing it about £15m to £20m a day. ukimports.org
19/04/10 - Iceland volcano: 'Outrage' over flight price issue
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A passenger group has expressed "outrage" that some travellers may face extra charges for flights they rebook due to the ash cloud.
It said it had found evidence of some airline websites saying passengers must pay the difference between the cost of an original and rebooked flight.
The Air Transport Users Council (ATUC) said rules state passengers who chose a new flight should not pay extra.
However, people could face higher prices if they rebooked themselves. ukimports.org
17/04/10 - Volcanic ash cloud forces more UK flight restrictions
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Restrictions on flights to and from the UK have been extended until 0700 BST on Sunday, as the danger to planes from volcanic ash from Iceland continues.
A few domestic flights may be able to take off from Scotland and Northern Ireland before 1900 BST on Saturday, but most planes will remain grounded.
British Airways has cancelled all short haul flights on Sunday but is still reviewing long haul services.
Officials warn that European airspace could be disrupted for several days. ukimports.org
15/04/10 - Icelandic volcanic ash alert grounds UK flights
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)All flights in and out of the UK and several other European countries have been suspended as ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland moves south.
Up to 4,000 flights are being cancelled with airspace closed in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark among others.
The UK's air traffic control service (Nats) said no flights would be allowed in UK airspace until at least 0700 BST on Friday amid fears of engine damage.
Safety group Eurocontrol said the problem could persist for 48 hours. ukimports.org
13/04/10 - UK trade deficit narrows as exports jump
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A rebound in exports helped to narrow the UK trade deficit in February, official figures have shown.
The trade deficit in goods and services shrank to £2.1bn, down from a £3.9bn deficit in January.
The goods deficit narrowed to £6.17bn in February, down from £7.52bn the month before and the smallest goods deficit since June 2006.
Goods exports jumped 9.5%, rebounding after exports in January were affected by the heavy snow, analysts said. ukimports.org
13/04/10 - Firm fined for workman's death fall at Bristol Airport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A building firm has been fined £100,000 for breaching health and safety rules after a workman fell to his death from an aircraft hangar.
Steven Watson, 30, from Gateshead, fell 30ft (9m) from the hangar roof at Bristol Airport in December 2006 as he worked to dismantle it.
His former employer, Rubb Buildings, was ordered to pay the fine and costs of £48,795.36, at Bristol Crown Court.
Mr Watson died of multiple injuries after falling on to concrete. ukimports.org
13/04/10 - US plane makes emergency landing in Iceland
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A US passenger jet has made an emergency landing in Iceland after reports of chemical fumes in the cabin.
A spokesman for Keflavik airport outside Reykjavik said several crew members on the American Airlines flight had complained of dizziness.
The Boeing 767 landed safely just after 1345 GMT, Fridthor Eydal told Associated Press. No-one was injured.
The flight, with 145 people on board, was travelling from Paris to Fort Worth in Texas. ukimports.org
12/04/10 - Man in court over Portsmouth Ferry Port cigarette haul
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A man charged with evading £1m in tax duty after five million cigarettes were found in a lorry has appeared in court.
UK Border Agency officers stopped the lorry after it arrived at Portsmouth Ferry Port aboard a ferry from Caen in France, last Saturday.
A 29-year-old man was charged with being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of duty payable on tobacco products. ukimports.org
12/04/10 - Labour restate support for third runway at Heathow
- Courtesy of The Newcastle Chronicle (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)LABOUR today reiterated its support for a third runway at Heathrow but said it would not allow additional runways to proceed at any other airport during the next Parliament.
The manifesto pledge means that the prospect of a second runway at Stansted airport in Essex - where progress has already been bogged down in the planning process - recedes even further.
At the other major airport where an additional runway has been suggested - Gatwick in West Sussex - a local agreement rules out a new runway before 2019.
Labour said Heathrow was Britain’s international hub airport, was already operating at full capacity and was ``supporting millions of jobs, business and citizens who depend upon it". ukimports.org
12/04/10 - BA bosses face price-fixing case
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Three ex-British Airways executives and one current employee are due to appear in court charged with price fixing.
The men, who deny wrongdoing, are accused of agreeing with Virgin Atlantic to set surcharge prices between 2004 and 2006.
BA's head of sales Andrew Crawley and ex-commercial director Martin George will appear at Southwark Crown Court.
Ex-communications head Iain Burns and ex-UK and Ireland sales chief Alan Burnett are also set to appear.
Over a period of 18 months, fuel surcharges rose from £5 to £60 for a typical long-haul return ticket. ukimports.org
08/04/10 - British Airways and Iberia sign merger agreement
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia have signed a deal to merge and create one of the world's biggest airline groups.
The merger, which was provisionally agreed in November last year, is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
In a statement, the two companies said the merger would benefit shareholders, employees and customers.
It is expected to save the airlines 400m euros ($533m; £350m) a year. ukimports.org
08/04/10 - Heathrow told to improve manoeuvre warnings for pilots
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A report into a runway accident at Heathrow Airport involving two packed passenger planes has called for a tightening of procedures.
In 2007 a SriLankan Airlines Airbus hit a stationary British Airways (BA) plane while trying to manoeuvre in the dark.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said manoeuvre warnings issued to pilots needed to be improved.
None of the passengers on board the planes were injured in the accident. ukimports.org
08/04/10 - United and US Airways 'in merger talks'
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Two of the biggest airlines in the United States - United and US Airways - are discussing a possible merger, reports say.
The companies are said to have spent two weeks deep in talks but have not yet reached a deal.
There have been a number of tie-ups between prominent airlines since their industry was hit by sharply higher fuel prices and the global recession.
Spokesmen for both companies said they would not comment on the speculation. ukimports.org
07/04/10 - Lufthansa pilots call off strike
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Pilots at Lufthansa, Europe's biggest airline, have called off a four-day strike planned for next week.
The airline and the pilot's union, Vereinigung Cockpit, said they had agreed key points for arbitration talks over the coming days.
The pilots had planned to strike from Tuesday to Friday next week over the terms of a proposed pay freeze.
A similar strike in late February was called off after one day when both sides agreed to new negotiations. ukimports.org
07/04/10 - German boxship CMA CGM Verlaine collided with Israel boxship Odessa Star, in a dense fog.
- Courtesy of Turkish Maritime (www.turkishmaritime.com.tr)German boxship CMA CGM Verlaine collided with Israel boxship Odessa Star, in a dense fog.
Judging from Turkey newspapers reports, Odessa Star was anchored, CMA CGM Verlaine was leaving Gulf of Izmit and passing Odessa Star bow, changed course and kind of stuck herself on Odessa Star bow.
CMA CGM Verlaine got a big hole portside, 5 containers fell overboard, 2 sank. CMA CGM Verlaine was on the verge of sinking also - water rushed in a hole, but tugs hurried to the scene and took vessel to shallow waters. Odessa Star got some cracks and dents. ukimports.org
06/04/10 - SeaFrance strike due to end after five days
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A strike by French ferry workers which has been disrupting cross-Channel services from Dover is due to end after five days.
The strike has led to the cancellation of all SeaFrance sailings from Dover to Calais since Friday. Talks aimed at resolving the dispute are continuing.
The industrial action began when members of the CFDT union walked out in a row over new working practices.
SeaFrance said sailings were expected to resume at 0815 BST on Wednesday. ukimports.org
06/04/10 - SeaFrance strike continues to affect Channel ferries
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)A strike by French ferry workers which has been disrupting cross-Channel services from the Kent port of Dover has entered a fifth day.
The strike has led to the cancellation of all SeaFrance sailings from Dover to Calais since Friday. Talks aimed at resolving the dispute are continuing.
The industrial action began when members of the CFDT union walked out in a row over new working practices.
SeaFrance said its sailings were suspended until 2000 BST on Tuesday. ukimports.org
03/04/10 - Flights disrupted after fire at Heathrow control tower
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Hundreds of passengers had their flights disrupted after a fire at a control tower at Heathrow airport.
A London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesman said it was called to a "small" fire at about 0830 BST.
Fire crews were still at the scene and the scale of the incident was not immediately clear, although several flights were taking off and landing.
An airport spokesman said nine flights had been diverted from Heathrow to Gatwick. ukimports.org
03/04/10 - SeaFrance strike threatens further disruption at Dover
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Passengers hoping to cross the Channel by ferry are facing further disruption as a strike by SeaFrance workers in Calais enters its second day.
The 48-hour strike by CFDT union members led to the cancellation of all SeaFrance crossings from Dover to Calais on Friday.
The company said further cancellations may be necessary on Saturday.
It said it was advising passengers not to travel to Dover unless they had a booking with another operator. ukimports.org
02/04/10 - Striking SeaFrance workers hit cross-Channel ferries
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Striking French ferry workers are causing major disruption at the Port of Dover.
SeaFrance crossings between Dover and Calais have been severely affected after CFDT union members walked out on Friday over new working practices.
Operation Stack - where lorries waiting to cross the Channel park on the M20 in Kent - was lifted on Friday evening following its introduction at 1030 BST.
SeaFrance urged passengers to stay away from the Port of Dover.
The industrial action is expected to last for 48 hours. ukimports.org
01/04/10 - Suspected mephedrone-type compound seized at airport
- Courtesy of The BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)Airport officials have made their first seizure of a suspected mephedrone-like substance since its importation was banned, the UK Border Agency has said.
Officers at Stansted Airport, Essex, seized 103kg in five packets labelled as methylone, a compound similar to the drug ministers hope to ban by April 16.
Tests will now take place on the substance, which had been bound for London and arrived from Mumbai, India. ukimports.org
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