‘Cost of doing business’ crisis and Wizz Air probe

Budget carrier Wizz Air is facing an investigation over an alleged breach of consumer protection laws following disruption to flights this year.

Google has been accused of “airbrushing” some of the environmental impacts of flights after changing how it calculates emissions from air travel. 

While Dublin’s long-awaited second runway has finally opened – 15 years after the project was given planning permission.

Here are the headlines that the travel industry woke up to on Thursday (25 August).

‘Cost of doing business crisis’ looms for companies

UK companies face a “cost of doing business crisis”, with many commercial energy bills poised to increase more than fourfold this autumn. The warning comes as the majority of firms are due to renegotiate their electricity and gas rates in October. (Financial Times)

Wizz Air investigated over breach of consumer protection laws

The budget carrier is under investigation by the Hungarian government amid claims it failed to protect customers affected by delayed and cancelled flights. Wizz has been accused of not providing information to customers affected by disrupted flights. (Daily Express)

Google change reduces airline emissions calculations

Google has changed the way it calculates emissions from flights in its search results to exclude all global warming impacts from air travel except for CO2. Climate experts have accused the technology company of “airbrushing” a huge part of aviation’s environmental impact. (BBC News)

Britons must pay price for peace in Ukraine

Outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson has warned that Britons must endure soaring energy bills because Ukrainians are “paying in their blood” for Russia’s invasion. Johnson made the comments as he made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Wednesday (24 August). (Various)

First flight takes off from Dublin’s new runway

Dublin airport opened its long-awaited new runway on Wednesday (24 August), some 15 years after it was given planning permission. The €320 million project to build the second runway will help Ireland’s major hub airport to expand and cater for larger aircraft as it emerges from the pandemic. (Irish Times)