The biggest stories of 2015

As we all prepare to say goodbye to 2015, TravelMole Editor Bev Fearis looks back at the major news events that dominated the headlines, and picks some of this year’s quirkiest stories too.

January

It hasn’t been the best of years for our friends at the Channel Tunnel. Trouble began back in January when a lorry fire led to major disuption to Eurostar and Eurotunnel trains. The tunnel hit the headlines on many occasions again later in the year as immigrants, camped at Calais, attempted to storm the tunnel to get into Britain. Security was tightened and the chaos eventually calmed but sadly the camps remain.

Eurostar warns of further delays following Channel Tunnel closures

Migrant activity brings more Eurotunnel delays

February

It was a relatively mild winter for the UK, but when a sprinkling of snow came, this cheeky photo went viral and could have been a bit of a nightmare for Michael O’Leary and co. However, Ryanair’s witty PR team jumped into action and their response was described by many in the media world as simply ‘perfect’.

Ryanair deals ‘perfectly’ with snow penis picture

March

When a Germanwings plane crashed in the Alps, killing all 144 passengers and six crew on board, it was devastating enough, but when it transpired that the pilot was to blame, the event became all the more tragic. Everyone in the industry felt the pain of the families affected.

Co-pilot of Germanwings flight ‘intentionally started descent’

Germanwings crew unfit to fly due to ’emotional distress’

April

When it comes to putting on big events, Sir Richard Branson and his team are usually totally on the ball, but when Virgin Atlantic launched its new Atlanta-Manchester flights things didn’t quite go to plan. 
A water cannon salute by airport firefighters at Manchester Airport went a bit wrong and foam was sprayed instead of water, clogging up the aircraft’s engines. Oh dear.

Mistake dampens Virgin’s Atlanta-Manchester inaugural

May

Thomas Cook would be the first to admit that 2015 was a difficult one. The travel giant was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons and came under massive scrutiny and criticism over its handling of the deaths of Bobby and Christi Shepherd from carbon monoxide poisoning. Things came to a head in May during the inquest into the tragedy and, following a backlash, the operator went some way to turning things around by making a big donation to charity and setting up a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers, but not before significant damage was done. Big lessons learned.

Mother confronts Fontenla-Novoa over Corfu deaths

Thomas Cook bows to pressure and gives Corfu compensation to charity

Coroner calls on Thomas Cook to lead drive for better gas safety

Thomas Cook ready to move on from ‘torrid’ time

June

On June 26, a lone gunman opened fire on a beach in Sousse killing 38 people including 30 British Thomson and First Choice holidaymakers. TUI Travel chief executive Peter Long described it as the the most tragic in his career, and understandably so.

Terror attacks have lost Tunisia a million tourists this year

Foreign Office updates advice as Tunisia extends state of emergency

July

After months and months of fruitless searching, a piece of debris washed up on a beach on Reunion Island which finally gave a clue to the mystery of  flight MH370, which disappeared with 239 passengers on board on March 8 last year while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It was later confirmed to be from the aircraft.

MH370 search: debris taken to France for verification

Malaysia says flaperon was from flight MH370

August

TravelMole has noticed a rise in headlines relating to bad passenger behaviour on board flights this year. It could be that the growing use of social media is bringing these incidents to the awareness of journalists, but the airline industry believes it is actually becoming a bigger problem. Jet2 has launched a campaign to get tough on unruly behaviour and has begun banning and fining passengers.

Police taser easyJet passenger in hand luggage dispute

Spitting. stealing and stripping leads to lifetime airline ban for three Scottish passengers

Jet2 calls for national database of disruptive passengers

September

The quick thinking of a British Airways pilot helped avert a possible disaster when an aircraft burst into flames on the tarmac at Las Vegas. The pilot, close to retirement, was given a holiday to say thank you. Well deserved.

BA flight to London bursts into flames

Fast-thinking BA pilot rewarded with Barbados trip

October

When news broke that a Russian jet had crashed in the Sinai on October 31, terrorism was initially ruled out by most ‘experts’. But the story took a different turn when evidence emerged of a bomb on board. In an unprecedented move, the UK Government banned all but essential flights to and from the popular Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh over security fears at its airport. Thousands of Brits were flown home, but not without some troubles. The travel advice remains in place and UK operators have suspended their programmes. Russia has meanwhile banned all travel to and from the whole of Egypt,  with devastating consequences for the country’s tourism.

Emergency measures being put in place to bring Brits home from Sharm El Sheikh

Major confusion as most Sharm rescue flights are halted

November

Like September 11 and July 7, November 13 is a date that will stick in everyone’s minds for truly tragic reasons. It was the date that 130 people were killed in cafes and restaurants and in a concert hall in co-ordinated attacks which shocked the whole world. Paris has cancelled its New Year’s Eve fireworks tonight as a mark of respect for the victims and other cities have also beefed up security amid fears of a terror attack. The impact of that night’s events are likely to be felt for some time.

Paris attacker ‘planned atrocity from hotel room’

FCO issues advice to Brits in Paris

December

As if we hadn’t waited long enough, December was finally meant to bring a decision, one way or another, about airport expansion in the UK. The debate had hit the headlines throughout the year, swinging this way and that. In July, the Airports Commission released its recommendations and Heathrow emerged as the definite favourite. But, frustratingly, the Government has delayed the decision yet again and we’ll have to wait until at least next summer. AARRGH!!

Airports Commission makes clear case for third Heathrow runway

Outrage over runway decision delay

Happy New Year from the team at TravelMole.

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