Govt backs SAF test flight, plus – more economic woes for UK

The UK’s ongoing economic woes also make the news, with consumer confidence at its lowest for decades.

There are also disturbing scenes following a death on a cruise ship, while political unrest in Peru is affecting tourists there.

Here are the headlines affecting travel on Friday 16 December.

‘Guilt-free’ transatlantic flights possible, says minister

Guilt free flying is one step closer to reality, the government has said as it awarded Virgin Atlantic up to £1 million to test a transatlantic flight powered by green fuel. A Boeing 787 will next year jet from London to New York. (Sky News)

Consumer confidence at lowest for half a century

UK consumer confidence is at its lowest in almost 50 years, according to a closely watched survey. The consumer confidence index, a measure of how people view personal finances and wider economic prospects, edged up only two points to minus 42 in December compared with the previous month, said research group GfK. The average since the index started is minus 10. (Financial Times)

Italy’s tourism minster calls for beach privatisation

Italy’s tourism minister has called for the country’s last remaining public beaches to be privatised, weeks after transferring part-ownership of an exclusive beach club to her boyfriend. Daniela Santanche claims many free beaches are the haunts of “drug addicts” and covered in rubbish. (The Telegraph)

Tourist stranded at Machu Picchu as unrest grows

Hundreds of tourists have been left stranded around the Unesco World Heritage site of Machu Picchu as Peru is gripped by violent protests following the ousting and arrest of the former president Pedro Castillo. The train service connecting the Inca citadel with Cusco, 70 miles (110 kilometres) away, was suspended. (The Times)

Woman falls from cruise ship, prompting brawl among passengers

A woman died after going overboard a cruise ship – and passengers who were not let off the ship when it docked appeared to get into a massive brawl. The unnamed 36-year-old fell off the MSC Meraviglia around 5am on Thursday about 18 miles off Port Canaveral in Florida as the ship returned from the Bahamas. (Metro)

Madrid stations closed after flash flooding

Several metro stations in Madrid were forced to close yesterday after being flooded with waist-high water as Storm Efrain brought a sixth day of torrential rains. Up to 80 litres of rain fell in just 12 hours in some areas and more than 100 litres in 48 hours. (The Daily Mail)