Shapps’ comments on Wednesday (10 November) came with prime minister Boris Johnson expected to return to the Cop26 summit in Glasgow amid claims the meeting has not done enough to combat climate change.
Meanwhile, British Airways is looking to recruit thousands of new employees as demand for travel returns.
Here are the key headlines concerning travel on Wednesday 10 November.
Flying ‘not evil’, says transport secretary
Flying is not the ‘ultimate evil’, Grant Shapps has said as the prime minister returns to Cop 26. Shapps added the UK could get to “guilt-free travel”. “It gets worse the further you travel, so flying is, of course, the ultimate evil as it’s presented, and that’s just not what we believe as the British government,” he said. (The Telegraph)
Plans to tackle global warming ‘not enough’
Research group Climate Action Tracker claims nations’ plans for how they will slash emissions by the end of this decade would result in a global temperature increase of 2.4C by 2100. Despite Cop 26 pledges, emissions in 2030 will still be double that needed to limit warming to 1.5C. (The i)
British Airways in recruitment drive
BA could recruit 4,000 staff by next summer as travellers return. Boss Sean Doyle said it was planning to add pilots, cabin crew, ground and back office staff as it prepares for a rebound in leisure and business travel. (The Daily Mail)
Warning about plan to widen vaccine passport scheme in Scotland
Scotland’s vaccine passport is currently limited to nightclubs and sporting stadiums, but ministers are expected to extend it to pubs, restaurants, gyms and other public venues. UK Hospitality warned the scheme has already had a “catastrophic impact” on the night time economy, with businesses forced to close early. (The Times)
