International supply chain specialist, Exel, has achieved two major contract wins on both sides of the Atlantic with Visteon Corporation, the world’s second-largest supplier of integrated automotive technology systems
Read MoreSwissair, the embattled Swiss flag carrier, has agreed the sale of its 49.9 per cent stake in LTU, the German charter airline, for a symbolic E1 in a move that allows it to avoid honouring a financial commitment that could have cost it up to SFr1.3bn ($785m).
Last week the state savings bank of Dusseldorf announced that it would take over Swissair’s 49.9 per cent stake in LTU in a government-orchestrated bail-out that has been heavily criticised by Lufthansa, Germany’s national airline, which competes with LTU through its stake in Condor, a rival charter airline.
Read MoreYesterday the SUD-PTT union at French post office La Poste issued a warning to strike on 2 January over the conditions of the switch to euro notes and coins.
Read MoreTwenty years after it was split from British Telecommunications, the Post Office is considering a mobile phone business as part of its re-entry into telecoms.
Consignia, the state-owned group that runs the Royal Mail, is partnering Sweden’s pan-European telecoms operator, Tele2, to launch a fixed-line service next week that will use Post Office outlets and branding.
It is understood both parties see a mobile phone service as a logical next step if that operation is successful.
The move represents an effort by Consignia to expand its revenue base, which has been hit by the spread of e-mail and private postal companies.
La Poste, the French post office, is preparing to complete its range of financial services. On Tuesday it will launch a stock market web site aimed at the general public. Patrick Werner, general manager with responsibility for financial activities and the general public network, says La Poste has a long tradition of customer relations other than on a face-to-face basis, and since customers want to access the group’s services in various ways, the group has to respond.
Read MoreUnions representing staff at the Belgian post office have called for rolling strikes in the country’s three main regions due to proposed closures.
Read MoreCommunications and Information Technology Minister Leonid Reiman announced that a “Post Bank” would be established in the process of postal service reform. Reiman added, “There will be a “Post Bank”. It will be possible to decide the place that it will occupy within the system by the end of 2002.”
Read MoreAn Post claims new targets for next-day postal deliveries set by the telecoms regulator, Ms Etain Doyle, are unnecessary and unattainable. The development is the latest sign of strain in the relationship between the State company and Ms Doyle’s office, which has regulated its business since September last year.
In addition, Ms Doyle has sought more information from An Post to justify its application for a 30 per cent rise in international postal tariffs.
The company has already taken issue with a (pounds) 550,000 (EUR699,000) fee levied by Ms Doyle’s office for its regulation this year, arguing it is excessive and “totally inappropriate”.
On delivery standards, Ms Doyle said in a paper last September that An Post’s customers wanted a “much improved” standard of next-day delivery.
She added that the company did not meet its own target of 90 per cent for all mails at present.
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