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Transport Infrastructure

Passenger Transportation Services

Passenger Transportation Services

Travel restrictions tightened as Ebola threat rises

World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak that has been occurring in Democratic Republic of Congo a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, and warned of a high-risk of it spreading to neighboring countries. This decision has led?governments?to step up containment measures related to travel. The following is a list with the screening measures and travel restrictions announced and implemented by various countries. UNITED 'STATES In may, Washington prohibited non-citizens from entering 'the United?"States after they had traveled to the DRC, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last few weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Passenger Transportation Services

EasyJet says it is open to a takeover bid, but the timing of it is 'opportunistic.' Shares soar.

EasyJet's shares rose by 12% on Monday after the British airline announced it would be open to any Castlelake takeover offer. The company called the timing of the U.S. investment group "highly opportunistic". Castlelake announced on Friday that it is in the preliminary stages of considering an offer for?easyJet. However, no approach has yet been made to the board. There can be no certainty as to whether or not a bid will be made. It has until 26 June to either make a "firm bid" or walk away. EasyJet said on Monday that it would evaluate any offer, if made....

Passenger Transportation Services

Austrian protesters close vital motorway linking Germany to Italy

Thousands of local residents closed down 'Austria Brenner Motorway' on Saturday. The Brenner is a vital north to south?corridor between Germany and Italy. They were protesting against the?tourists and trucks that are always clogging their roads. Karl Muehlsteiger was the leader of the protest, the mayor of Gries am Brenner. Gries am Brenner is one of the towns that are in the shadows of the Wipp Valley, a narrow valley with steep sides, and giant concrete stilts. Since?decades, the issue of excessive traffic and pollution in the valley that leads to the Brenner pass has been a source for tension...

Passenger Transportation Services

Castlelake considers offer for British low-cost carrier EasyJet

Castlelake L.P., a U.S. investment firm, said on Friday that it was in the early stages of considering an offer for British budget airline easyJet. This sent the 'airline’s U.S. traded shares up nearly 10%. Castlelake stated in a press release that no approach had been made to easyJet's board and it was impossible to predict whether or not an offer would be made. According to UK takeover regulations, Castlelake must submit a firm bid by the 26th of June or abandon a deal. EasyJet announced the news a week ago, after warning that its outlook for the full year...

Passenger Transportation Services

European shares gain monthly on Middle East Peace Hopes

European shares edged higher on Friday to close the month with gains. Investors clung to hopes that a proposed agreement could be reached extending a Middle East truce and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Market optimism was sparked by reports that U.S. president Donald Trump had been weighing a preliminary U.S. Iran agreement. He said that he would reach a decision on the deal by Friday. Kathleen Brooks is the research director for XTB. She said that the market may test its patience if a deal cannot be reached by the end of June. This could have a major impact...

Passenger Transportation Services

Airline cancellations in response to Middle East conflict

Middle Eastern carriers increased capacity following the disruption caused by the Iran War, and airlines outside the Gulf have rerouted flights between Europe?and Asia away from major hubs in that region. The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically: AEGEAN AIRLINES On May 21, Greece's biggest carrier will resume flights from Heraklion to Tel Aviv, as well as Rhodes and Larnaca. Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv flights are cancelled up until June 26. Erbil, Baghdad and Dubai flights are all cancelled until August 31. AEROFLOT The Russian flag carrier announced that it will resume flights to?the United Arab Emirates? from June 1. AIRBALTIC...

Passenger Transportation Services

Bloomberg News reports that China has stalled Airbus approvals in order to put pressure on Europe for home-made Chinese jets.

Bloomberg News reported that China had'stopped the approval of Airbus delivery to show 'impatience at European regulators who were delaying certification for Chinese-made COMAC planes. Reports cite people with knowledge of the situation as saying that the 'Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC)' has been delaying the final approval for Airbus jets entering the country and being put into service. Airbus has delivered the fewest commercial aircraft in the first quarter of the year since 2009. Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said last month that the delay was caused by a "administrative issue" which held up nearly 20 aircraft bound for...

Passenger Transportation

Sources say that Italy's RAI wants to extend the contract with EI Towers before RaiWay.

Three sources said that RAI wants EI Towers?to extend contracts with broadcasters using its infrastructure, before it merges into the state broadcaster RaiWay. This is to ensure long-term stability of business. Sources who declined to give their names because the talks are not public said that the issue was a sticking-point in the negotiations between RaiWay, and the shareholders of EI Towers, ahead of the June 15 deadline for a?deal?. The merger of RaiWay, a Milan-listed company, and EI Towers, a privately owned company has been on the radar for almost a decade. EI Towers is 60% owned by Italian...

Passenger Transportation Services

Airline cancellations in response to Middle East conflict

Middle Eastern carriers increased capacity following the disruption caused by the Iran War, and airlines outside of the Gulf have rerouted flights between Europe and Asia to avoid major hubs within the region. The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically. AEGEAN AIRLINES On May 21, Greece's largest airline will resume its flights from Heraklion to Tel Aviv, as well as Rhodes and Larnaca. Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv flights are cancelled until June 26. Erbil, Baghdad and Dubai flights are all cancelled until July 2nd. AEROFLOT The Russian flag carrier has announced that it will resume flights to the United Arab Emirates...

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Sweden will halve the monthly price of public transport passes ahead of elections

The right-wing government of Sweden announced on Tuesday that it had 'agreed' to halve the monthly price of public transport passes by 2026. This will provide relief to households before the September parliamentary elections. Simona Mohamsson, Liberals Party leader and Education Minister, said that the 'temporary cuts' beginning July 1 are expected to cost $699 million. Prior to the announcement of these measures, the government had announced that it would reduce fuel taxes temporarily and provide electricity bill refunds to households. It also provided support for airlines. Energy Minister Ebba busch said at a press briefing on Tuesday that "we...

Passenger Transportation Services

EasyJet is under investigation by Italy's antitrust authorities over its baggage pricing

The Italian antitrust authority announced on Tuesday that it had 'opened an investigation' into the budget airline easyJet over alleged unfair business practices related to baggage charges. The authority stated that the company's app and website advertised only the average prices for "checked luggage and sports equipment" on round-trips, but made bundle purchases the default option even when customers didn't want them. The company said that consumers could be misled about the price of each leg. They would need to interrupt the booking process online to change the default option. EasyJet stated in an email that it had "always acted...

Passenger Transportation Services

Source: Belgium train crashes with school bus killing multiple people

Sources say that a 'collision' between a 'train and a bus killed several people in Buggenhout, Belgium on Tuesday morning. The accident happened early on Tuesday morning at a level crossing about 1 km from Buggenhout Station. In a post to?X, Bernard Quintin stated that he was "deeply saddened" by the accident in Buggenhout. He did not give any further details. The spokesperson for the Belgian Police did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Accidents at level crossings have a long history in Belgium, a country where a dense rail network crosses towns and villages. Infrabel, the railway infrastructure...

Oil Pipeline

Oil Pipeline

Ukraine strikes Russian energy sites: What was hit?

Kyiv intensified its attacks on Russian energy installations in recent months, as the peace talks that were supposed to end the Ukraine conflict failed to make any progress. The following is a list of recent attacks and their impact, in chronological order. YAROSLAVL According to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukrainian forces attacked the Russian oil refinery at Yaroslavl on May 25. This was about 700 km (435 mi) away from the Ukrainian border. The refinery can process 15 million metric tonnes per year or about 300,000 barrels a day. SYZRAN On May 21, the Ukrainian military and President Zelenskiy announced that Ukrainian...

Oil Pipeline

Ukraine claims it has hit a pumping station for oil in Russia's Vladimir Region

The Ukrainian SBU security service said that its drones had attacked an 'oil pumping' dispatch station in Russia's Vladimir Region on Sunday. They added that the facility is a key node for pumping oil products south-west to Moscow and surrounding areas. The?SBU released a statement on social media saying that the company?supplies oil to major depots in and around Moscow, as well as to Sheremetyevo Airport, Domodedovo Airport, and Vnukovo Airport. It added that an area of 800 square metres (8.600 square feet), was affected by the fire. Alexander Avdeyev said on social media that the fire near the village...

Oil Pipeline

Zelenskiy: Ukraine has attacked a Russian oil refinery at Yaroslavl

Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian oil refinery near the Ukrainian border, about?700 km (435 mi) away, said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday. This is the latest of a series strikes by Kyiv against oil facilities in Russia. He said that the Defense Forces of Ukraine had operated overnight against targets near the Yaroslavl Oil Refinery, which is about 700 kilometers from his territory. Ukraine has intensified their attacks on Russia in order to disrupt Russia's?oil?industry? and reduce revenue that Moscow uses to fund the war in Ukraine. The Iran conflict has led to a rise in global energy prices and...

Transportation

Logistics

Logistics

UK regulator investigates Royal Mail for missing delivery targets

Ofcom, the British media and telecoms regulator, opened an investigation on Monday into Royal Mail after it failed to meet its delivery targets for fiscal 2025/26. The post and parcel group is embarking on new delivery patterns as well as investing in order to improve service. Royal Mail will invest PS500 million (approximately $673 million) over the next five-years to reduce delivery times and costs. This comes after regulator Ofcom set "minimum acceptable deadlines" and launched a price review of its business last year. Ofcom published delivery data last Friday showing that, for the year up to March, only 75.7%...

Logistics

Germany's DHL hires US Postal Service for last-mile US parcel deliveries

?The U.S. The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday that it had signed a'multi-year agreement with DHL eCommerce for parcel delivery in the U.S. DHL?eCommerce is a U.S. division of the German logistics giant DHL Group. The deal, according to DHL, will help the company grow on the U.S. Market over the next few years. DHL eCommerce, which has 19 hubs in the U.S., will be responsible for the pickup and sorting of all deliveries before USPS completes the final mile. Deal is crucial for the financially strapped USPS. It has warned that it may run out of money as early...

Logistics

US Postal Service signs multi-year agreement with DHL unit

The U.S. The U.S. DHL eCommerce, a division of the German logistics giant DHL Group said that the deal would help the company grow in the U.S. over the next few years. David Steiner, Postmaster-General of the United States, said in an exclusive interview that DHL has the opportunity to "play in the largest market on the planet." He said that DHL would have to "invest a lot of capital" to build an end-to -end network or partner with someone who has the last mile capability, like USPS. DHL eCommerce will handle pickups and sortation at its 19 U.S. hubs,...

Logistics

The EU should phase out the low-value package tax rules, say logistics giants

DHL, FedEx, and UPS called on 'European Union Finance Ministers' to implement new?duty regulations on?low value packages? on Friday. They warned of supply chain bottlenecks, and the impact this would have on some medical supplies. These rules are part of an effort to crackdown on cheap Chinese imports, such as those from online retailers Shein or Temu. In a letter dated 22 May, seen by the, three companies said the EU should implement a EUR3 flat rate duty on July 1 but defer "more complicated and unresolved" elements until they were?legally sure and 'operationally viable. The new data requirements, along...

Logistics

InPost announces that FedEx's $9 billion buyout will open on May 26,

InPost, a Polish parcel locker company, announced on Friday that the consortium of FedEx International, Advent International and InPost investors will make a?buyout offer worth EUR7.8 billion (USD9 'billion). The offer is valid from May 26 until July 27. The company stated in a'statement' that regulatory clearances for the deal have already been received in China, Israel and Italy. InPost's shareholders support the all-cash?bid for a takeover announced in February, unanimously recommended by InPost board. For the deal to be completed, however, 80% must be?tendered. The EUR15.60 bid per share would allow U.S. FedEx to increase its reach in Europe...

Logistics

InPost's strong parcel growth and Yodel integration costs offset the high profit forecast for InPost.

InPost, the parcel locker company that was the target of an 'offer by a FedEx and Advent led consortium, reported a core profit in the first quarter of the year, which exceeded market expectations. Growth in Poland and in the Eurozone helped offset costs associated with the integration of Yodel into Britain. The adjusted earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, and amortisation were 902.2 million Zlotys (249.0 millions) in the third quarter. This was above a consensus estimate from the company of 856million Zlotys. InPost's Poland division, which is still its main source of profit, saw its first-quarter deliveries increase 8%,...

Logistics

DHL's operating profit increases thanks to cost and capacity management

DHL, the German logistics giant, reported on Thursday a higher than expected 'first-quarter operating profits', helped by structural cost reductions, capacity management and yield measures. Tobias Meyer, CEO of the company, said that despite closed airspace and blocked sea routes, they kept cargo moving. The company's?quarterly profit before interest and tax was 1.48 billion euros ($1.73billion), exceeding analysts' expectations by 1.38 billion, according to a consensus provided by the company. The?quarterly operating margin increased to 7.3%, up from 6.6% in the same quarter?last. Meyer stated that "after the first three month, we are on track to reach our full-year goals."...

Logistics

US companies show resilience as Iran war threats mount

The top American companies, from GM and Coca-Cola to Coca-Cola, are trying to reassure their investors that they will be able to weather the financial fallout of the Iran War despite the fact that fuel prices and packaging costs have risen. Since the beginning of the conflict, oil prices have increased dramatically. This has pushed up the cost of inputs in industries that are already under pressure from U.S. Tariffs. This increase forces companies to consider price increases at a time consumers are already feeling the strain. Reviewing company statements from the'start of war' revealed that 24 companies had withdrawn...

Integrated Logistics

Iran War boosts European Logistics Profits as Shipping Chaos Persists

Analysts say that the U.S./Israeli war against Iran will benefit European logistics companies, which are expected to post higher profits in the first quarter. However, analysts also said that the conflict could cloud their future prospects. Although increased supply-chain complexity is typically a positive for logistics companies like DHL, DSV and Kuehne+Nagel in terms of profitability, many analysts have warned that the long-term effects from the energy shock and broader economic fallout may impact demand later this year. In a client note, Jefferies analysts stated that Kuehne+Nagel management does not expect any further yield pressure on sea or air businesses...

Logistics

DHL Express maintains investment plans in Middle East despite the war

DHL Express Europe's CEO Mike Parra stated on Thursday that the company will continue to invest in the Middle East despite the conflict in Iran, as the region plays a crucial role for its business over the long term. The Deutsche Post DHL Group has announced investments of more than 500 millions?euros (577 million dollars) in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Parra, a journalist in Amsterdam, said: "Investments continue in the Middle East. We see the Middle East as having a key role for us from a long-term standpoint." The U.S. and Israeli...

Logistics

US Customs Agency says system for refunding tariffs will be available in 45 days

A customs official stated in a Friday court filing that the U.S. Customs Agency is preparing a system to refund tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, which were ruled illegal. Brandon Lord, a Customs and Border Protection officer, made the declaration as government lawyers and a federal trade court met to try and hammer out an agreement for the return of $166 billion worth of tariff payments to 330,000 importers. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court, however, did not specify how tariffs collected should be refunded. This left'small importers' worried...

Logistics

DHL warns about delays but continues to accept Middle East Orders

DHL's chief executive said he would continue to accept delivery orders for the Middle East, but warned that there could be delays. Tobias Meyer, CEO of German logistics group DHL, said that the escalation in the U.S. - Iran war has an impact on the entire region. This includes deliveries to Israel, which are currently being sent via Cyprus. Meyer said that DHL is still committed to its Middle East?investment plan. He said that "these?are long term investments?and are of the opinion the region is still appealing." As the conflict enters its sixth day, logistics and shipping companies face increasing...