Headlines also focus on another surge in the price of oil as the EU considers whether to sanction Russian energy supplies over the war in Ukraine.

Elsewhere, rescuers continue to search for survivors from the China Eastern Airlines’ crash in southern China on Monday (21 March), while India’s aviation regulator has placed the country’s entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft under “surveillance”.

Here are the headlines the travel industry woke up to on Tuesday (22 March).

New P&O crew on less than £2 an hour, claims union

Agency workers hired to replace P&O Ferries crews in Dover are being paid just £1.81 an hour, according to the RMT union, which added that this low rate of pay was “a betrayal of those who have been sacked”. P&O said this figure was inaccurate but did not reveal pay rates for these new workers. (Independent/The Guardian)

Oil price rockets as EU considers more sanctions on Russia

The price of oil increased by 7% to more than $115 a barrel on Monday night (21 March) as European leaders debated imposing potential sanctions on Russian energy in response to the escalating war in Ukraine, raising fears of a supply crisis. (The Times)

China plane crash: Rescuers search for survivors as families await news

Rescuers continue to search for survivors from the China Eastern flight which crashed in southern China on Monday (21 March). Flight MU5735 was carrying 132 people when it plunged into hills in Guangxi province. There are fears that nobody survived the impact. (Various)

Boeing jets under ‘surveillance’ after China crash

India’s aviation regulator has placed the country’s fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft under “enhanced surveillance” after the crash of a China Eastern Boeing 737-800. The regulator said it has sent out teams “to monitor flight procedures, air worthiness and operations”. (BBC News)

‘Putin’s superyacht’ faces seizure

Italian authorities are being urged to seize a £500 million superyacht, which is allegedly owned by Russian president Vladimir Putin. The yacht is currently undergoing repairs at a marina in western Italy and its owner has not yet been identified. (The Telegraph)

German union announces strikes at eight airports

Flights to and from Germany are set to be disrupted on Tuesday (22 March), as airport security staff go on strike in a dispute over pay. The industrial action will affect eight airports in the country, including the main hub of Frankfurt, where departing passengers are being told not to go to the airport. (Reuters)