Government

'An extra £20,000 a year': agents count the cost as Budget measures take effect

Adjustments to National Insurance, minimum wage and business rates may mean smaller agencies feel the pinch, with larger travel businesses able to absorb the cost

Luton airport given green light to almost double passenger numbers

The government has given Luton airport permission to increase its capacity from 19 million annual passengers to 32 million by 2043, despite the Planning Inspectorate recommending the proposal be rejected on environmental grounds

UK could suffer repeat of last summer’s air traffic control delays – Iata

Iata’s UK and Ireland boss warns the issues that plagued air traffic control last summer have still not been resolved as this year’s peak season approaches

Heathrow addresses criticism of power outage response with five-point plan

Transport committee hearing told the airport was warned twice about the resilience of its power supply in the days leading up to the meltdown on 21 March

Dame Irene Hays: ‘We know what’s happening – we live and breathe travel’

TTG caught up with Hays Travel chair Dame Irene Hays and chief operating officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston at the Hays Travel Independence Group conference. Here’s what they had to say about the state of the travel industry in 2025

Baldwins Travel's appeal to have Abta membership reinstated ends in failure

Baldwins has lost its appeal against its expulsion from Abta after the association’s members’ committee ruled the agency had ’failed to provide the financial information required of them as an Abta member’

Competition on cross-Channel rail routes moves a step closer

The rail regulator has said there is room for new entrants to use Eurostar’s maintenance facility, removing an impediment for more operators on cross-Channel routes

MPs to weigh airport expansion plans against green commitments at inquiry

The House of Commons’ environmental audit committee has launched an inquiry into whether airport expansion plans can go ahead without jeopardising existing environmental targets

Start-up Global Airlines puts two transatlantic charters on sale amid ongoing UK licence bid

Global Airlines is selling seats onboard two transatlantic flights scheduled for May as its application for a UK Air Operator’s Certificate continues

Spring Statement: chancellor insists consumers will have more disposable income this year

Average consumer will be £500 better off this year says chancellor Rachel Reeves allowing them to spend more on non-essentials like travel

Why travel agents will need £2,000 in extra commission from 6 April

The consortium says agencies will need to sell seven extra holidays per staff member to fund rises in minimum wage and National Insurance from April

EU Entry-Exit System delay prompts new FCDO advice

The FCDO has updated its advice on Schengen countries following the latest delay to the introduction of the EU Entry/Exit System

Travel boss slams govt for 'making disabled people scapegoats'

Limitless Travel’s Angus Drummond says accessibility needs to be at the heart of the political agenda otherwise the inference is disabled people are ’second rate’ and their needs are not being prioritised

Independent operators can be successful in Trump era, Aito insists

Aito chair Chris Rowles says he believes members who got through Covid will be able to overcome anything that Donald Trump throws at them in the coming four years

Gatwick second runway approved in principle but final decision deferred to autumn

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has granted provisional permission for Gatwick airport to bring its standby runway into daily use, but a final decision will now be made in the autumn

Gatwick expansion: transport secretary signals support for second runway plan

Heidi Alexander confirms government’s backing for airport expansion, with a decision on a second runway at Gatwick due on Thursday, but reiterates growth must be balanced against environmental realities

What is a carbon budget? And what will the UK's latest – its seventh – mean for travel?

With aviation and cruise set for the first time to be included in the UK’s next carbon budget, which is due this month, how can travel continue to grow while reducing its environmental impact?

Gatwick expansion: when is the decision due and what's at stake?

It’s a big week for Gatwick, which will find out whether the government will support its plans to almost double passenger numbers by bringing its standby runway into permanent use

New HS2 station to massively boost rail connectivity at Birmingham airport

The new high-speed rail link will cut the journey time between the airport and central London from 70 minutes to less than 40 minutes

Govt 'seeking reciprocal overseas worker deal with EU'

Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly drawing up plans to offer the EU a youth worker programme deal, meaning travel firms can post seasonal workers overseas again

Aviation minister hints government won't pay for Heathrow third runway groundwork

Aviation minister Mike Kane has indicated funding for the enormous cost of moving the M25 for Heathrow’s third runway won’t come from the public purse

Heathrow to upgrade Terminals 2 and 5 ahead of third runway push

Heathrow has made a number of commitments to invest in Britain’s busiest, including increasing capacity at Terminal 2 and Terminal 5, as it pushes ahead with its plans to expand via a third runway

Heathrow begins finalising third runway plan following govt support

Heathrow will submit a plan for its third runway in the summer, its chief executive has confirmed after the chancellor indicated support for the project

New EU border rules 'pushed back to November', says Dover chief

The EU’s biometric Entry-Exit Scheme will now be phased in from November says Port of Dover chief executive Doug Bannister, three years later than originally planned