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Europe
Italy's beach access dispute pits campaigners against lido operators
In this hot summer in Italy, the clash between cultures has intensified. Campaigners for free beach access are pitted against lido operators that charge for essentials like umbrellas, sunbeds, food stalls and lifeguard services. Santa Severa is an ancient Etruscan village located about 50km (30 miles) to the north-west from Rome. The battle lines are clearly defined. The beach is lined with parasols of all colours, and there are narrow strips of sand in between each lidos. Simone Vincenzi is the manager of Pino al Mare, a family-run lido that has been in operation for three generations. In his establishment
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LNG Transportation
Bousso: The future of Mideast oil is bleak as Iran tightens its grip on Hormuz.
Energy markets are stuck in a limbo of uncertainty that is not easy to get out. Buyers are increasingly worried about the reliability and security of Gulf supply, which is creating a new alarming norm for producers in the region. The energy sector in the Middle East is more vulnerable and weaker than ever before, five months after Israel and the United States launched their military strikes against Iran. Energy infrastructure is under attack, and shipping routes are becoming increasingly restricted. Importers are starting to avoid supplying a region which accounted for a fifth of the world's oil and LNG
Passenger Transportation Services
Passenger Transportation Services
Air France-KLM exceeds its quarterly profit forecasts but reduces capacity estimates
Air France-KLM lowered its full-year guidance on capacity on?Thursday, despite a?drop that was lower than expected in the second quarter profit after revenue increases?from premium and long-haul flights. The airline group has increased ticket prices and its premium offerings to maintain profits during a downturn in the industry. However, KLM (Dutch arm) said that improvements weren't enough to improve its financial base. The Iran War has pushed up jet fuel prices and caused a reduction in capacity, so global carriers are racing to take advantage of the lucrative summer season to avoid financial problems later in the year. The Franco-Dutch...
Passenger Transportation Services
WestJet Flight Attendants issue 72-hour notice of strike over unpaid work
Flight attendants from Canada's WestJet Airlines gave a 72-hour strike notice on Thursday if an agreement was not made with the country's second largest carrier. Canadian Union of Public Employees posted on Facebook that if negotiations fail to resolve a dispute about unpaid work, cabin?crew? at the Calgary-based carrier owned by Onex Corp. can strike as soon as August 2 at 12:01 am Mountain Time (06:00 GMT), if they are unable to reach an agreement. The union that represents WestJet's flight attendants is calling for the crew to be paid between the time they arrive and when they leave, which...
Passenger Transportation Services
Air France-KLM exceeds its quarterly profit forecasts but reduces its capacity forecasts
Air France-KLM reported Thursday a higher profit than expected for the second quarter, citing increased revenue from premium and long-haul?travel. The Franco-Dutch Group posted an adjusted operating profit for the second quarter of EUR484million ($552.5million), down from EUR736million in the same period the previous year, but higher than EUR327million projected by analysts polled on average by the company. Benjamin Smith, the CEO of the group, said that the company had delivered "strong commercial performance" on the back a constant demand for premium travel. This was particularly true on the Asian and North American market. The airline group is using its...
Passenger Transportation Services
Trump announces $22 billion plan for Washington Dulles airport
The President Donald Trump announced a $22 billion plan to rebuild Washington Dulles Airport by replacing concourses, adding a large parking garage and preserving the iconic main terminal. This announcement is just the latest of a number of major projects that he has announced around and in the U.S. Capital. Trump stated that Dulles Airport in Washington was "one of the worst airports in the world. We're going make it the best by doing some hard work." He also said it was "time for a major, long-overdue renovation and rebuilding of Washington's horribly thought of Dulles." Trump, joined at the...
Passenger Transportation Services
Airbus has paid a fine of PS6 Million in the UK export control probe
Airbus announced on Wednesday that it had 'paid just over PS6.4m?to UK Revenue & Customs Authorities to settle a two-year old investigation into export control violation. The European planemaker has announced that it will be investigating several of its British subsidiaries in 2024. Airbus stated in its notes to the quarterly earnings released on Wednesday that the settlement reached earlier this month "closes" and "fully resolves" the issue. The probe, according to people familiar with it, 'focused on anomalies that were discovered during an audit of the A400M airlifter in 2022. Airbus refused to comment on the details of the...
Passenger Transportation Services
Airbus Q2 profits boosted by jet deliveries and defense demand
Airbus maintained financial ?and industrial forecasts as it unveiled stronger-than-expected second-quarter ?revenues and core profits on Wednesday, lifted by higher jetliner ?deliveries and gains in defence. The 'world's biggest planemaker'reported its?quarterly operating profit increased 54% to 2,43 billion euros while revenues grew 28% to 20,53 billion euros. This was due to a surge in deliveries of commercial aircraft following a slow year-start. Analysts expected the profit figure, which was widely watched, to be 2.19 billion Euros on revenues of?20.25 billion. The quarterly update was released just days after Airbus expressed greater confidence in the ability to?increase production? as a battered...
Passenger Transportation Services
Delta will offer DraftKings on all flights but not betting
Delta Air Lines announced on Wednesday that it would offer a sports prediction game in partnership with DraftKings. However, the company will not allow gambling on its flights. The airline stated that the game is open to all passengers over 21 years old and allows players to win Delta gift certificates. However, it does not allow betting, deposit functionality or financial risk. Last year, the?U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal asked the companies to not allow gambling aboard, citing a 1962 law which prohibits gambling on commercial planes. In order to entertain passengers, airlines are now offering more content in the air....
Passenger Transportation Services
Canada - July 29,
These are some of the most popular stories in selected Canadian newspapers. The?top stories from selected?Canadian newspapers are listed below. The GLOBE and MAIL – Zijin Gold & Allied Gold abandoned a C$5.5 billion (3.90 billion) buyout? of the Canadian miner. Instead, the?Chinese firm took a 9.2% stake? for around $295 million. Dominic LeBlanc, Canada-U.S. trade minister is back in Washington this Week as Ottawa seeks to avoid the imposition on punishing new tariffs for August 19, and advance broader trade negotiations. Apotex Health is the sole manufacturer of generic Ozempic in Canada for the next few months after a...
Passenger Transportation Services
Frontier Airlines forecasts third quarter profit higher than estimates due to strong demand and increased airfares following rival's departure
Frontier Airlines, a low-cost carrier, forecasted third-quarter earnings that were above Wall Street expectations on Wednesday. The airline attributed this to higher airfares as well as strong demand following the exit of its competitor Spirit. In premarket trading, the company's shares were up 2.4%. The uncertainty surrounding the Middle East war has made it difficult for airlines forecasting earnings and jet fuel prices, which make up roughly one-fourth of their operating costs. Frontier Airlines' exit from its closest rival Spirit Airlines allowed it to increase fares faster and limit the impact a ballooning fuel cost had on its margins. U.S....
Passenger Transportation Services
Bangladesh's USBangla will buy 21 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion in expansion
US-Bangla Airlines plans to acquire 21 Boeing aircraft for $1.5 billion in order to expand its international network. The 'order,' announced at the "Beyond with Boeing", event in Dhaka includes 15 Boeing 737-8s and six Boeing 737-8s with deliveries planned by the end 2027. Bangladesh's air travel industry generates an estimated $5.8billion annually. However, foreign airlines transport the majority of passengers, leading to a significant loss of foreign currency. Bangladesh, in an effort to address the problem and boost trade with the United States, agreed to purchase 14 'Boeing' aircraft valued at $3.7 billion. US-Bangla Airlines stated that the deal...
Passenger Transportation Services
Travel companies in the US are resilient enough to absorb Middle East shock.
Early earnings reports show that travel companies, including hotel chains and cruise operators, relied on the resilient U.S. leisure and business demand. They also benefited from a temporary boost from World Cup to offset the effects of the Middle East war. Fuel costs have increased and international travel has been disrupted by the?conflict. However, earnings reports released on Tuesday indicate that many consumers are not deterred by economic uncertainty or higher travel costs. The founder of GetCruiseInfo.com, Brian Rooney, said that "JetBlue Hilton and Royal Caribbean have all shown continued strength with higher-valued products. This suggests that travelers still prioritize...
Passenger Transportation Services
Aena increases traffic forecast due to Middle East unrest re-directing travellers to Spain
Aena, the Spanish airport operator, raised its forecast for 2026 passenger traffic growth to 3% on 'Wednesday. This was due to higher first-half profits and a surge in tourist arrivals as Middle East unrest diverted travelers to destinations along the southern Mediterranean. Aena predicted a 1.3% annual passenger traffic increase for 2026, up from 3.9% in 2017. Aena released a statement that said, "Since the beginning of (Strait of Hormuz), we have observed an increase in travel demand to Spain. It is perceived as being a safe destination for tourists." In the first six months of this year, the company's...
Ground Transportation
Amtrak, the US passenger rail company, sets a record for ridership and cuts losses
Amtrak, the U.S. passenger rail company, said Tuesday that it had set records for revenue and ridership in a single year. It also cut its losses by 15 percent to $598 millions and is aiming for profitability by 2028. Amtrak is a major effort in rehabilitating the infrastructure of the Northeast corridor between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington. It is expanding service throughout the United States by purchasing new Acela trains with higher speeds and replacing regional trains from next year. Amtrak reported that in the twelve months ending September 30, it had 34,5 million trips made by customers, an increase...
Whaleboat sinks into river in Congo, killing at least 107 people
According to a government internal report viewed by us on Friday, at least 107 people died when a whaleboat caught blaze in the west of Democratic Republic of Congo. In a memo, the Ministry of Social Affairs stated that 146 people were missing after the boat, which was a narrow double-ended open vessel, caught fire near Malange Village in Lukolela Territory on Thursday night. The note stated that rescue teams recovered 209 survivors after the vessel burnt and drifted downriver. The fire destroyed the cargo and 15 riverside houses. The search operations continued Friday, with community volunteers and naval personnel...
As inventories shrink, premiums for copper contracts on the nearby LME soar.
The premiums for copper contracts near London Metal Exchange have increased to their highest level since October 2022 due to low inventories, large cash contracts and warrants held by traders. The title document that confers ownership on metal is a warrant. Tom-next, also known as the premium or backwardation that is charged for purchasing copper tomorrow and then selling it the next day, is currently trading at above The price of a metric tonne is $48. This compares to a $2 discount at the beginning of the week. The premium for the cash Copper Contract over the Three-Month Forward It...