December 2014

Updated: City Link to make over 2,350 staff redundant

The BBC reports that parcels delivery company City Link is to make over 85% of its staff redundant, after the firm went into administration on 24 December. The company, sold by previous owners Rentokil Initial to restructuring specialist Better Capital in April 2013, called in administrators Ernst & Young on Christmas Eve in the face of "substantial losses". The timing of the announcement was widely criticised by trade unions and some ... [+]

New link between Humber and east Sweden (updated)

Baltic Euro Lines will offer a new liner service between East Coast Sweden, Northern Holland and the Humber from the New Year. A joint venture by Norwegian shipping companies, Seafront Maritime and Kopervik-based Northwest Ship Management, the service will commence operation with one multi-purpose side-port vessel, MV Skog, with a cargo ... [+]

Great Dane for Emirates

Emirates SkyCargo has appointed Henrik Ambak as senior vice president, cargo operations worldwide. The Danish national joins Emirates SkyCargo after having spent the past 27 years in various roles in the air cargo industry, having worked for companies such as Novia, CSLux and Cargolux Airlines. In his new role, he ... [+]

First Etihad A380 flies to Heathrow

Etihad Airways operated its inaugural A380 flight from Abu Dhabi International Airport to London Heathrow on 27 December. The carrier plans to deploy its second and third A380s on the London route as well, which will become an all-380 service with three daily flights. It will also serve Sydney and New ... [+]

London Gateway gains West Africa link

CMA CGM is reconfiguring its Europe and Mediterranean to West Africa services into two separate routes, including one calling at London Gateway from 22 January. It will improve reliability and London Gateway will be linked to strategic ports in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal, it says. The Euraf 1 service ... [+]

Commission to keep shipping alliances under the microscope

The Global Shippers' Forum (GSF) has welcomed the new EU Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager's statement that she will keep a ‘close eye’ on container shipping mega-alliances. GSF said it had already called on the European Competition Commission to monitor closely such alliances for compliance with EU competition rules. GSF secretary ... [+]

Dnata strike is off

A two-day strike by workers at cargo and ground handling company dnata over a pay deal has been suspended after the company made an improved offer, the Unite said today (22 December).  Over 460 Unite members at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports had been due to start a two-day strike ... [+]

Marseille unveils growth strategy

The Marseille Fos port authority has set out a vision for growth over the four years to 2018 in a strategic plan to position the port as a viable alternative to ports in northern Europe. Developments costing €360 million target areas of activity with the greatest potential for strong growth and ... [+]

Emirates to go thrice-daily to Birmingham

Emirates is introducing a third daily service from its Dubai hub to Birmingham Airport from 1 August 2015. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, it will depart Dubai International Airport at 02.35 and arrive in Birmingham at 07.05. The outbound flight, will depart Birmingham at 09.10 and arrive in Dubai at ... [+]

ABP signs first learning agreement

The port of Grimsby and Immingham has become the first in the Associated British Ports group to sign a formal learning agreement with trade union Unite. The agreement will see the appointment of a dedicated Union Learning Representative and will make it easier for employees at the port complex to ... [+]