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Digital editor Tom Newcombe compiles the latest news from
buyingbusinesstravel.com
AIRLINES
Addison Lee slams Uber for fighting new taxi laws
ADDISON LEE HAS CLAIMED RIVAL UBER is attempting to “water down” new private car hire regulations. Europe’s largest private hire operator has written an open letter to London mayor Sadiq Khan complaining about Uber’s actions. The argument centres on Transport for London’s new
Airlines accused of charging passengers too much for
credit card payments FLYBE, MONARCH AND RYANAIR are among the airlines accused of charging passengers too much for paying with a credit card.
Consumer group Fairer Finance, which has launched a campaign to scrap charges for credit or debit card payments, named the three airlines along with Flight Centre and Swinton Insurance in the top five ‘worst big companies’ for card charges. Flybe and Monarch charge 3 per cent for credit card payments, Ryanair and Flight Centre 2 per cent, Norwegian Air 1.99 per cent and Virgin Atlantic 1.50 per cent. The airlines argue the fees reflect the cost of processing payments. “Monarch’s credit card surcharges are set to cover all of the related costs incurred by the company associated with taking payment by credit card,” the airline said. However, Fairer Finance argues many other companies, including United and Air Canada, have scrapped these charges altogether while others, such as Easyjet, have reduced them from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. New European rules, which came into force last December, cap the “interchange fee” – the largest part of the cost – at 0.3 per cent. Industry experts have suggested that additional costs should, therefore, amount to no more than an extra 0.3 per cent for large companies. Finance Fairer said that should mean consumers are being charged no more than around 0.6 per cent by large companies – and certainly no more than 1 per cent.
8 BBT September/October 2016
regulations, which were approved in March this year. Among the new rules required for private hire drivers are: a written English and map-reading test, notification of any changes made to apps, pricing or products, and all operators to run a call centre within the licensing zone in London. Addison Lee said the regulations will ensure that “all licensed drivers have a command of English and knowledge of London’s geography”.
Uber said the new rules will “threaten” thousands of driver jobs and result in longer wait times for customers.
RAIL Calls to scrap HS2 project
HS2 IS A “WASTEFUL VANITY PROJECT” that should be scrapped, according to the Taxpayers’ Alliance.
In a recent report, the campaign think-tank said that the business case for the high-speed rail project has fallen apart while latest cost projections are “massively over budget”. The Alliance said with a new Prime Minister in office, the government should scrap HS2 and focus on other infrastructure projects across the UK with “much better benefit/cost ratios”.
I urge her to rule as swiftly as possible in favour of a second runway at Gatwick
London mayor Sadiq Khan calls on Prime Minister Theresa May to make decision on airport capacity
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