Police have cleared climate activists from part of the Oxford Circus demonstration as the Extinction Rebellion protests entered their fifth day. London’s busiest shopping street remained blocked despite although police manage to move the pink boat which had been used to block the junction with Regent Street. The vessel was attached to a lorry and taken…
Rail travellers once again bore the brunt of Easter travel disruption, with protracted and messy journeys for some and severe overcrowding for others. London Euston station is closed for the whole bank holiday weekend because of work connected with the HS2 high-speed project. As a result, the usual Virgin Trains timetable on the West Coast…
Climate campaigners taking part in the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests are planning to target Heathrow airport on Friday following days of demonstrations in London that have led to nearly 500 arrests. The Metropolitan Police will deploy a “significant number of officers” to the airport and the force said it would take “firm action against any…
TfL has warned of planned disruption on the London Overground this Easter weekend. Until further notice (except during planned line closures) there will be a reduced service every day between Gospel Oak and Barking. This is due to a lack of available trains. Trains will run about every 30 minutes. Supplementary buses will also…
A major travel company has been misinforming customers about the visa rules for China, costing them hundreds of pounds and many hours of hassle. Travelbag, which is part of the Emirates Group, told passengers on a cruise which ends in Shanghai: “Please ensure you arrange your visa prior to departing the UK.” The process for…
The major Indian airline Jet Airways has suspended all operations after failing to secure emergency funding from its lenders. Its demise was announced on Wednesday evening in Mumbai, its home city. All flights, both international and domestic, have been cancelled. The last Jet flight will operate today. We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your…
Travellers to and from Portugal are being warned that their flights may be disrupted. A nationwide strike involving drivers of hazardous-goods vehicles has led to fuel shortages at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. Lisbon, the busiest airport in Portugal, is warning travellers: “Due to a national strike, [the] aircraft fuel supply was interrupted, so there…
British Airways has launched what it calls “a streamlined compensation process” to help passengers claim for delayed and cancelled flights. Under the European legislation known as EU261, travellers are entitled to cash compensation for long delays or cancellations that are within the airlines’ control. The sum ranges from €250 (£215) for short flights that arrive three…
Diving under the surface of the sea, I’m suddenly in a different world, one of flitting fish and waving fronds of seaweed in wonderfully clear water. I feel the initial sting of cold ebb away as I sink to the seafloor and attempt to grab a fat brown crab, but he scuttles into the fronds…
The tragic combustion of heritage in the fire at Notre Dame is heartbreaking for the city, the country and humanity. The catastrophe will also have significant implications for the tourist industry in Paris. The cathedral of Notre Dame is by far the most popular visitor attraction in France, which in turn attracts more tourists than any…
The person or people who launched a drone attack at Gatwick in the week before Christmas had inside knowledge of the airport, a leading executive has said. Chris Woodroofe, chief operating officer at Gatwick, told BBC’s Panorama: “It was clear that the drone operators had a link into what was going on at the airport.”…
What Star Wars fan hasn’t dreamed of sitting in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon? Well, those dreams are about to come true, as Galaxy’s Edge sets to open to the public in Disneyland, Anaheim and Disney World, Orlando, It’s the biggest expansion to the parks yet, while the creative team behind it – during…
Jet Airways, the Indian carrier mired in debt, appears to have shut down completely. The airline claims on its website to be operating 48 domestic flights on both Sunday 14 and Monday 15 April. But the flight status shown for all these departures, and dozens more, indicates that they are all cancelled. We’ll tell you…
Prepaid cardholders will avoid being ripped off this summer by merchants abroad using “dynamic currency conversion” (DCC), after Mastercard has made changes to its rules. The DCC scheme is designed to reward the merchant by offering the chance to pay in sterling rather than the local currency at an unfavourable rate of exchange. Shops, restaurants and…
A water cannon salute damaged a Saudi plane and injured a passenger after it landed at Dubai International Airport. A ceremonial gesture in the aviation industry, typically performed for a special occasion such as an inaugural flight or a final service, the cannon was honouring Saudi Arabia National Day, according to a report into the incident by the UAE’s General…