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With the weekend approaching, Friday’s headlines focus on what could be another few days of major disruption to travel.
Travel bosses have urged the UK and French governments to work together to find a solution to the cross-Channel delays, while Brexit minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested UK holidaymakers should go to Portugal instead of France.
Elsewhere, there is anger at the huge profits made by two of the UK’s major energy companies while households struggle to cope with the cost of living crisis.
In the US, JetBlue has won the long-running battle to merge with fellow US carrier Spirit, while the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen in 2024.
Here are the headlines travel woke up to on Friday (29 July).
Travel operators demand action over cross-Channel delays
Industry bosses have called for an end to the “blame game” over long delays to cross-Channel ferry and train services this summer, with Eurocamp urging UK and French authorities to work together to find a solution and create “more capacity” at passport control. (The Guardian)
Minister urges people to go on holiday to Portugal to avoid Dover queues
Brexit opportunities minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has advised Britons to go on holiday to Portugal instead of France if they want to avoid huge queues at Dover, as he blamed French authorities for not providing enough immigration officers at cross-Channel ports. (Sky News)
AA issues amber traffic warning ahead of weekend
The AA motoring organisation has issued an amber traffic warning for the weekend with long queues expected on the UK’s roads as summer getaways combine with the Commonwealth Games, the start of the football season and another rail strike. (Evening Standard)
Energy firms’ profit surge ‘insults working people’
Soaring profits at two of the UK’s major energy companies, Centrica and Shell, have been described as an “insult” to millions of people struggling with the cost of living crisis due to high oil and gas prices. (Various)
JetBlue agrees $7.6bn deal for Spirit
US low-cost carrier JetBlue has won the battle to buy rival airline Spirit after announcing a merger deal that will create the fifth largest airline in the country. The move came shortly after Frontier’s agreement to merge with Spirit was abandoned due to a lack of shareholder support. (Financial Times)
Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral on track to reopen in 2024
The iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris is set to reopen to the public in 2024. The 13th century cathedral, which suffered a major fire in 2019, is currently being restored and should open its doors again in two years. (BBC News)
