Meanwhile, some European countries continue to tighten Covid-19 restrictions again as infection levels surge, with Austria imposing a lockdown restricting the movement of people who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Elsewhere, India and China have been criticised for “watering down” the final deal at the Cop26 climate conference, and the scale of private jet travel to the event is also exposed.
Here are the key headlines travel woke up to on Monday (15 November).
Shapps accused of lobbying against own government on airfields
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has been accused of fighting plans by his own government to build homes on little-used airfields around the country. Shapps, who is a keen pilot, has disputed claims that he used a lobbying body to protect airfields from redevelopment. (The Sunday Times)
Austria introduces lockdown for unvaccinated
A new lockdown has been introduced in Austria for people who have not been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 following a rise in infections. The move means that unvaccinated people will only be allowed to leave home for limited reasons, such as for work or to buy food. (BBC News)
Covid booster shots for under-50s to prevent winter wave
The government’s booster programme of top-up jabs is set to be extended to people under 50 in a further attempt to reduce the level of transmission during the winter. People under 50 will soon be able to book the booster dose within six months of receiving their second jab. (The Times)
Frustration at India and China over watering down of climate deal
India and China will “have to explain themselves to poor nations” after the deal agreed at the Cop26 conference in Glasgow was watered down at the last minute. The two countries objected to the original text saying the world should “phase out” coal power and this was replaced by “phase down” instead. (The Guardian)
Private flights helped make Cop26 most carbon heavy summit ever
More than 670 private jets were used to transport world leaders and billionaires to and from the Cop 26 climate conference in Glasgow over the past two weeks. The figures show that Cop26 is set be to the “most carbon-intensive summit” of its kind. (Metro)
Drone near-miss at Leeds Bradford airport ‘made pilot duck in fear’
A passenger jet came so close to hitting a drone that the pilot ducked because he thought it would crash through the cockpit window. A report into the “near miss” in August said the Boeing 737 aircraft was coming in to land at Leeds Bradford airport when the incident occurred. (Daily Mirror)
