City and finance

Travel agents helping drive post-Covid economic recovery – ONS

Travel and tourism sectors cited as major contributors to small growth in UK GDP in February

Holidaymakers urged to brace for Easter travel 'chaos'

Travellers are being warned about disruption to flights, train services and road travel, while there are ongoing concerns about P&O Ferries services

CAA writes to airports and airlines; plus, price of oil dips

The CAA sets out concerns over airport staffing levels as travel demand grows; elsewhere, though, there is some good news with a fall in oil prices

JetBlue makes surprise bid for rival US airline

JetBlue reveals plan to buy rival Spirit Airlines, trouncing bid by Frontier

Virgin Atlantic 'expecting to return to profitability in 2023'

’2022 will be a year of transition as we move from survival into recovery and capitalise on the return of customer demand,’ said the carrier’s financial chief

Airport chaos threatens Easter getaway as Covid rates hit record levels

Warning of hectic Easter getaway owing to levels of Covid staff absence at UK airports and surging passenger numbers

Intrepid Travel Group optimistic despite 2021 loss

Intrepid Travel Group continues with sustainability programme despite increased losses last year

Airport queues and flight cancellation chaos 'to continue'

Airlines and airports warn of continued problems over the coming days as staff shortages due to Covid affect service levels

Airport travel chaos and talk of new SME loans

Staff shortages continue to impact UK airports and airlines, with chaotic scenes at Manchester airport at the weekend and mass cancellations by easyJet

Israeli firm acquires Howard Travel and Erne Travel parent

Talma Shlomo Travel Solutions Summit Advisory snaps up TMC Norad Travel Group, owner of leisure agencies Howard Travel in Trowbridge and Erne Travel in Enniskillen

Summer 2022 could be as strong as 2019, says Tui

Bookings for summer 2022 at 80% of summer 2019 levels, group reveals

Second P&O Ferries ship detained as Shapps issues ultimatum

Authorities have detained a second P&O Ferries ship as the government prepares to take action against the ferry operator over its decision to sack 800 seafarers without consultation

P&O Ferries faces new legislation and self-employed sick pay calls

Parliament poised to act to block P&O Ferries’ sacking of 800 staff, while there are renewed calls for there to be more Covid support for the self-employed

Living standards set to plunge and PM wades into P&O Ferries row

Thursday’s headlines focus on chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement, while Boris Johnson has said P&O Ferries’ sackings may be ’illegal’ despite evidence to the contrary

Chancellor unveils tax and NI measures in Spring Statement

Rishi Sunak detailed the higher National Insurance threshold to parliament, and warned the war in Ukraine would likely ensure costs continue to rise

Saga Group buoyed by cruise despite another travel loss

Saga’s travel division records another big loss due to the pandemic but sees better times ahead

Sunak faces Spring Statement pressure and Heathrow queue fury

Chancellor urged to take steps to ease cost-of-living crisis as he prepares to deliver ’mini budget’ on Wednesday, while passengers faced severe queues at Heathrow on Tuesday