AGP Executive Report

Aviation Safety: The UK’s AAIB praised a cargo flight crew after ice likely jammed roll controls mid-air on a Boeing 767 from Iceland to East Midlands, with the aircraft landing safely after the crew freed the controls. Air Travel Costs: Airline CEOs warn an EU plan to extend carbon pricing to extra-EEA flights would push up fares for passengers and cargo. Autonomous Transport: Waymo says London is readying for robotaxis this year, with trials under human supervision ahead of public launch later in 2026. Freight Security: A fleet-data warning argues location and route histories are becoming a physical security risk for UK logistics operators. Rail Disruption: Fatal incidents near Bolton and Glasgow caused major line closures and delays, with services cancelled or revised. Automation & Warehousing: Asda plans to cut up to 1,000 warehouse roles as it consolidates online operations into a DHL-run Derby site using AutoStore robotics. Manufacturing Investment: Mars is investing £190m in its Slough factory to modernise production with robotics and AI. Road Maintenance: Carmarthenshire Council repaired 3,623 potholes last year, with figures shared after a freedom of information request. Maritime Connectivity: CalMac’s Ferries Community Board chair role has been filled by islander Mary MacInnes, aiming to improve ferry services for communities. Tourism & Transport Demand: Research forecasts the global tourism source market could reach $1.1tn by 2032, underlining continued pressure on booking platforms and destination infrastructure.

Aviation Decarbonisation: IATA warns Sustainable Aviation Fuel output is still far below net zero needs, with SAF set to hit just 0.8% of aviation fuel use in 2026. Defence & Air Power: The UK’s Defence Investment Plan is under pressure, with reports suggesting “serious conversations” about whether to cut or delay the planned 12 F-35A jets. Ukraine Diplomacy: E3 leaders (UK, France, Germany) and Zelensky set out conditions for “just and lasting peace”, calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations from the current line of contact. Maritime Security: Reports link the seizure of an Iranian-linked tanker to the Kinahan cartel and Iran oil trading, highlighting tighter enforcement in the Indian Ocean. Road & Rail Disruption: Concerns are raised over “thin and fragile” roads ahead of a water tower demolition near the A14, with fears heavy plant and tipper traffic could damage the surface. Transport Safety: A crash in Wales (A48) left one teenager dead and two others hospitalised, while another serious collision in Scotland left one man dead and two in critical condition. World Cup Logistics: England’s Kansas City base area saw a mass shooting leaving nine adults injured, prompting security concerns as the squad prepares to arrive. Airline Operations: Air Zimbabwe misses its June London relaunch deadline, now targeting July 1 for Harare–Gatwick flights. EV Charging Rules: A “postcode lottery” of driveway and charging regulations is flagged, affecting how many drivers can charge at home.

SAF Scale-Up Stalls: IATA warns sustainable aviation fuel will hit only about 0.8% of aviation fuel use in 2026 (around 2.4m tonnes), calling for coordinated action to expand renewable power, secure feedstocks and improve open access to fuel infrastructure. Defence Funding Squeeze: Keir Starmer plans 1% cuts to transport and net zero spending to raise roughly £6bn for defence, with further reductions to the net zero department and the transport ministry. Border Chaos for Flyers: IATA says the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is already driving delays at some European airports, with processing times rising from ~20–25 seconds to about 90 seconds and queues of several hours possible. Fuel Cost Pressure on UK Airlines: British Airways says higher fuel costs from the Iran war are likely to feed through into fares after the main summer season. Greener Milk Haulage: First Milk and Nestlé switch milk transport to HVO, cutting emissions on the Cumbria/Ayrshire-to-processing routes by around 83% (about 1,000 tonnes CO₂e a year). Public Transport Demand: Residents in Somerset call for a permanent bus route between Midsomer Norton and Radstock after complaining services are too infrequent. Aviation Network Move: Philippine Airlines joins oneworld, giving UK travellers broader alliance connections. Roadworks Disruption: Greater Manchester faces multiple A-road works with drivers warned to expect delays. Local Bus Route Push: Calls grow for a permanent bus service on the A362 corridor linking two market towns in North East Somerset.

Rail Disruption: Signalling failure has blocked all lines between Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport, with National Rail warning of cancellations or delays of up to 45 minutes across Northern, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales services. Road & Weather: The Met Office has issued a yellow wind warning for parts of the UK after a cold spell, with gusts of 45–50mph and up to 55mph in exposed spots, risking travel disruption and power outages. Planning & Logistics: Turbocam UK’s change-of-use plans for a manufacturing site in Shirrell Heath, Hampshire, go before committee on 10 June despite 78 objections over noise, traffic and rural impact. Transport Policing: A coffee shop at Tenby railway station has been granted an alcohol licence despite British Transport Police objections citing repeated violence and disorder near the site. Aviation/Geopolitics: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in the spotlight after pushing for global engagement over “cancel culture,” including maritime security and supply-chain work with India and China.

EV Policy Pressure: Campaigners urge the UK not to weaken electric vehicle sale rules after analysis suggests extra petrol-and-diesel miles could add 17m tonnes of CO2 by 2030, following Labour’s “flexibilities” to the ZEV mandate. School Transport Cost Crunch: Coach operators warn school runs are at risk as diesel prices surge since the Iran conflict, with some firms needing tens of thousands more just to break even. Aviation Fuel Watch: Airlines and aviation leaders head to the Iata AGM in Rio as jet fuel stays high and the industry weighs how Middle East disruption could hit summer travel. Road and Rail Disruption Risk: The Met Office issues yellow wind warnings for parts of the south, warning of gusts up to 50mph, possible power cuts, and travel delays. Portsmouth Pride Cancelled: Portsmouth Pride is called off on safety grounds due to gale-force conditions, with some indoor events still going ahead. Transport Crime: British Transport Police release CCTV images after a station attack at Colindale left a man with a broken nose and ribs. Logistics and Industry Land Use: Plans for a new Solihull business park could add hundreds of thousands of square feet of industrial and logistics space near the M42.

Rail Disruption: Network Rail is starting £6m engineering works on Scotland’s Far North Line, with no trains between Dingwall and Wick from late June 7 to early June 29, while ScotRail runs a rail replacement plan and travellers are urged to check Traveline. Road & Major Projects: Scotland has opened procurement for the next stage of the A9 dualling, with a £1.94bn contract notice for a framework to deliver the remaining ~58 miles, including junction upgrades around Aviemore South, Granish and Blackmount. Transport Security & Crime: Manchester Airport staff are at the centre of a £30m cash smuggling case to the UAE, with investigators alleging a corrupt check-in worker helped move illicit funds hidden in suitcases. Aviation/Operations: UK airline Essar Fueling issues have forced flight cancellations, adding to ongoing travel disruption concerns. Active Travel: Swansea Council launches a 12-week consultation on an updated cycling and walking routes map, including potential new links and removals following earlier objections. Road Closures: National Highways sets out further night closures and contraflow diversions at Dartford Crossing and QEII Bridge, with traffic impacts across June 6-10.

Rail Safety: British Transport Police has issued a CCTV appeal after a woman was sexually assaulted on a Northampton-to-Birmingham train on 7 May; officers want to trace a man with a distinctive limp who got off at Coventry. Road Freight & Policy: The Road Freight Association wrapped up its 2026 convention urging urgent action to protect road freight, citing cost pressure from soaring diesel and calling for stronger freight partnerships. Regional Air Connectivity: Scottish MSPs have urged the Scottish Government to protect lifeline Loganair routes linking Sumburgh–Kirkwall–Inverness after planned mid-week cuts from mid-July due to lack of government funding. Local Transport Planning: Cardiff Council’s new leader says priorities include delivering major projects such as the revamp of Cardiff Central station and wider regeneration plans, as the city heads into the next election cycle. Infrastructure & Growth: Uttlesford planning officers have backed City & Country’s proposals for up to 480 homes near Stansted, including walking and cycling links and green buffers between communities. Logistics Sector Watch: A UK survey of finance chiefs suggests firms’ price-raising expectations eased slightly in May, with energy shock and margin pressure still top concerns.

UK Logistics Policy: Government says it’s “aware of challenges” facing the logistics sector as ministers push to keep freight moving. Rail & Infrastructure: Transport Scotland has launched £1.94bn procurement for remaining A9 dualling works, with near £2bn more contracts also out to tender. Road Works: A £39.7m I-95 pavement improvement project in Westchester highlights how busy corridors keep getting resurfaced. Aviation Disruption: UK cargo carrier European Cargo has entered administration, with 178 jobs lost and services halted. Maritime Tech: Posidonia 2026 spotlights AI and cloud-native maritime software, with a UK tech showcase backed by the Department for Business and Trade. Manufacturing & Jobs: Nissan’s Sunderland plant reportedly secures long-term work making Chery vehicles from 2027, a major signal for UK industrial capacity. Airline Rules: UK law clears hurdle for airlines to ban unruly passengers, with wider “no-fly” proposals back in focus.

Aviation Safety: Three Royal Navy personnel died in a night-time crash of a Leonardo AW101 Merlin helicopter during training near Sourton Down, west of Okehampton. Quick-Commerce Logistics: Amazon says its Proteus warehouse robot will take plain-language orders, with European deployment planned for early 2027, alongside a push to expand Amazon Now to Manchester and Birmingham for 30-minute deliveries. Road & Speed Policy: Government advisers back making 20mph the default in England’s built-up areas, arguing it’s safer and cheaper than the current patchwork. Construction Slowdown: UK construction activity shrank at the fastest pace in six years in May, with the S&P Global PMI at 38.2 as Iran-war pressures and political uncertainty hit demand. Freight & Aviation Industry: European Cargo, a UK A340-600 freight operator, has entered administration after “significant financial pressures” and rising fuel costs. Retail Automation & Jobs: Asda plans to cut up to 1,000 jobs as it consolidates logistics and accelerates automation, moving George clothing online operations to a Derby warehouse run by DHL. EV Market: New car registrations rose 7.1% in May, but EV uptake still lags the ZEV mandate trajectory. Maritime Autonomy: A new UK report puts maritime autonomy at £600m+ annual turnover today, with growth estimates reaching £8.3bn by 2050.

Road Safety Policy: Government advisers say England should adopt a blanket 20mph default limit in built-up areas, arguing it’s cheaper and simpler than leaving councils to set 20mph zones. Urban Planning & Transport: Sadiq Khan and the Prime Minister are due to discuss pushing through London’s 21,000-home “new town” plans despite Enfield council opposition, with wider talk on devolution and new public transport services. Local Disruption: Cardiff Crossrail tram works begin June 15, with lane reductions around Callaghan Square and staged traffic impacts expected through mid-July. Rail & Infrastructure Finance: KBRA has assigned preliminary ratings to UK Logistics 2026-2 DAC, a £648.8m CMBS backed by a portfolio of 184 industrial properties across the UK. Maritime Decarbonisation: BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation are piloting a tallow-based biofuel blend on a UK-flagged bulk carrier, targeting major voyage emissions cuts. Aviation & Safety: Royal Navy confirms three deaths after a Merlin HC4 crash during training near Okehampton, Devon, with an investigation underway. Logistics & Compliance: A shipping-focused safety brief highlights ongoing risks in vehicle carrier and Ro-Ro operations, including stability and fire hazards as EVs increase.

Aviation Regulation Shake-up: The UK is moving through a Civil Aviation Bill aimed at strengthening passenger rights, tightening slot rules, and improving safety and airspace management. Passenger Disruption Watch: Jet2 has warned travellers to Portugal to expect longer queues and possible ground delays due to a nationwide Portuguese general strike. Rail Disruption: British Transport Police dealt with a “casualty on the tracks” incident near Cambridge, blocking lines and causing delays. Economy & Logistics Pressure: S&P Global’s UK services PMI fell to 49.3 in May, the first contraction since April 2025, with firms citing Middle East-linked cost rises and weaker demand. Local Transport Impact: Scots MSPs are pushing the transport secretary after Loganair said it will cut weekday flights on key island routes, citing lack of government-funded support. Climate Policy Meets Daily Life: The government backed a legally binding 87% emissions cut by 2040, with proposals likely to affect household transport choices and energy use. Digital Content Rights: The CMA says UK publishers can opt out of Google AI search summaries, aiming to protect media bargaining power and traffic. Flooding Disruption: Heavy rain triggered amber flood alerts and road closures across parts of north-east and eastern Scotland.

Carbon Capture & Construction: Biscay Eco Aggregates’ accelerated carbonation plant at the Port of Bilbao is moving toward full-scale CO2-to-aggregate production, using industrial residues plus captured CO2 to make stable calcium carbonate—aimed at cutting emissions tied to cement and infrastructure. Rail & Urban Transport: North East Metro’s original Class 599 fleet is nearing full withdrawal after 46 years, with a final guaranteed service week starting 22 June—marking a major change for regional rail heritage. Infrastructure Delivery & Logistics: Balfour Beatty reshuffles leadership to sharpen delivery across UK transport, energy and defence, while Carter Jonas adds compulsory purchase expertise to its Scotland infrastructure team. Data Centres & Construction Sequencing: Pure DC appoints Glencar for the final build phase of its 90MW Brent Cross campus in London, extending capacity and coordinating works inside an active operational site. Road Safety Pressure: Northumberland’s A1 safety improvements are being criticised as “not enough” after recent fatalities, with calls to dual key single-carriageway sections. Maritime Security: UK-backed France boards a Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tanker, as tensions over sanctions enforcement and shipping routes continue to ripple through UK waters. World Cup Disruption Watch: UK travel and transport planning ramps up around the tournament, with crowd-safety and access measures under discussion across host areas.

Rail & Road Safety: Driver fatigue may be behind up to one-in-five crashes and around one-in-four fatal or serious incidents, with DfT data showing fatigue recorded in about 4% of reported collisions—road safety experts say the real figure is higher. Waste & Recycling Rules: England councils are rolling out “Simpler Recycling” changes from March 31, requiring food and garden waste separation and leaving some items like tea bags to be composted at home or taken to recycling centres, aiming to cut the refuse “postcode lottery.” Public Transport Disruption: London Underground is facing 24-hour Tube strikes with severe delays and suspensions across multiple lines as walkouts begin in pouring rain. Logistics & Industry: Amazon hosted students at its Peterborough fulfilment centre, giving a behind-the-scenes look at how orders are stored, picked, packed and shipped. Community Transport: Ravenscraig Ltd is renewing funding for a circular bus service linking the site to Motherwell, committing about £200,000 a year to support access to jobs and amenities.

Tube strikes: RMT walkouts on Tuesday and Thursday will hit London Underground services, with limited service before 6.30am and disruption across most lines; TfL urges passengers to plan ahead via TfL Go and Journey Planner. Aviation disruption rules: Government plans to share data between airlines to ban repeat drunk and abusive flyers across the whole network, closing the loophole where offenders could rebook elsewhere. Rail tech upgrade: A new AI-powered train monitoring system is being rolled out to help reduce overcrowding on UK railways. Road safety: DVSA warns drivers about driving licence changes coming next week, while new speed camera vans target major offences. Manufacturing costs: UK factory selling prices rose at the fastest pace in nearly four years as the Iran war and shipping disruption push up input costs. Maritime sanctions enforcement: France detained the sanctioned Russian-linked tanker Tagor in the Atlantic, with support including the UK, as part of the crackdown on the shadow fleet. Logistics investment: DP World says it will add $100m to expand logistics and warehousing at its Dominican Republic free trade zone in Caucedo.

AUKUS Undersea Drones: The UK, US and Australia have unveiled a new AUKUS programme to develop uncrewed underwater drones to protect seabed infrastructure and cables, with systems expected to be operational as early as next year. Maritime Sanctions Crackdown: France detained the Russian-linked “shadow fleet” tanker Tagor in the Atlantic, citing a false flag and suspected sanctions-busting; Russia hit back calling it illegal, while Macron said the UK supported the operation. Tube Strike Disruption: London Underground strike action is set to go ahead unless last-ditch talks deliver a breakthrough, with RMT members citing pay, working arrangements and staffing concerns. UK Manufacturing Lift: S&P Global’s May PMI showed UK factory growth at the fastest pace in four years, though firms warned the boost may be short-lived as orders are pulled forward ahead of price rises and supply strain. Logistics Build: Work has started on a £125m Bardon logistics scheme in Leicestershire, targeting nearly 950,000 sq ft of Grade A space near the M1. Aviation Disruption Rule: A new government plan could share data on disruptive passengers so airlines can refuse repeat offenders, potentially banning them across carriers. Safety on the Water: Wirral coast warnings followed multiple rescues tied to tide dangers, as RNLI and coastguard teams responded to incidents around the Dee Estuary.

Rail Disruption: London Tube strikes are set for Tuesday June 2 and Thursday June 4 (00.01-23.59), with no service expected on the Circle and Piccadilly lines both days, plus partial gaps on the Metropolitan and Central lines. Public Ownership & Jobs: Britain’s largest train operator, Govia Thameslink Railway, has moved into public ownership, but unions warn a “two-tier workforce” remains due to outsourced and subcontracted staff. Bus Pass Changes: England’s free bus pass eligibility is shifting as State Pension age rises; people born between 6 Apr 1960 and 5 Mar 1961 will qualify at 66 plus months, with a GOV.UK checker tool. Blue Badge Crackdown: More than 100,000 penalty charge notices were issued in 2024/25 for misuse of disabled bays or Blue Badges, with fines up to £1,000. Road Safety Push: Bradford Council says pavement parking enforcement could tighten locally after the government’s pavement parking review. Maritime & Emergency Response: Coastguards rescued four stranded teenagers on the Isle of Cumbrae after they planned to use a yoga mat to reach shore; a separate Lancashire incident saw a woman die after entering the sea to save a trapped dog. Infrastructure Finance: Rachel Reeves is considering a return to Blair-style PFI/PPP funding for major building projects, drawing criticism over long-term costs.