Wednesday’s headlines focus on Sunak’s financial options as he prepares to deliver his Spring Statement, which is being dubbed a “mini budget”.

Elsewhere, Heathrow passengers vented their fury after having to endure “mile-long” queues to get through immigration.

P&O Ferries continues to be in the firing line too after sacking 800 workers, while Flybe announced its imminent return to the skies – two years after the airline’s collapse.

Here are the headlines the travel industry woke up to on Wednesday (23 March).

You can spike the hike, Rishi

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is facing renewed calls to halt the planned increase in national insurance (NI) payments during his Spring Statement on Wednesday (23 March) to help ease the cost-of-living crisis. The rise in NI rates for workers is due to take effect from April. (The Daily Mail)

Heathrow passengers slam ‘mile-long’ queues

Furious passengers have criticised Heathrow after facing “mile-long” queues for immigration control on Tuesday (22 March). Pictures on social media showed hundreds of people waiting in line at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, with queues lasting for more than an hour. (Evening Standard)

P&O Ferries reveals payouts to repair reputation

The embattled ferry company said that it offered payments of up to £170,000 to seafaring crew who were sacked without notice last week. P&O Ferries continues to face criticism and political fallout from its decision to lay off 800 staff and replace them with cheaper agency workers. (Financial Times)

Flybe flies again as 23 routes launched

Regional airline Flybe will resume flights in April, two years after the carrier went out of business. The reborn airline will initially offer 23 domestic and European routes, with the majority of Flybe’s services operating from bases at Birmingham and Belfast City airports. (The Independent)

Russians trapped on a Thai island as war rages in Ukraine

Around 7,000 Russian tourists have been left stranded in Thailand, mostly on the holiday island of Phuket, since the start of the war in Ukraine last month after their flights home were cancelled. The visitors are struggling to get money as sanctions have stopped them from being able to use ATMs and their credit cards. (BBC News)

Scottish govt accused of ‘incompetence’ as cost of new ferries hits £240m

The Scottish government has been accused of “relentless incompetence” after Audit Scotland revealed a series of “failures” that has caused the price of two new ferries to more than double to £240 million. The ferries were ordered in 2015 to replace ageing ships operating in the Clyde and Hebrides islands but have yet to be delivered. (The Telegraph)