Carriers including easyJet and Ryanair face being banned from charging for carry-on luggage

Budget airlines including easyJet and Ryanair have been hit with fines totalling €150m (£128m) by the Spanish government for policies that include charging passengers extra for cabin luggage.

In the biggest sanction issued by the Spanish government’s ministry of social rights and consumer affairs, the carriers easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling and Volotea have been penalised after an investigation launched last summer.

CWU calls for new business model and says commitments for takeover do not ‘go far, or long enough’

The union that represents workers at Royal Mail has called for a new business model for the company that would see workers given a stake in the company and pay tied to growing services and meeting certain social benefits.

Dave Ward, the general secretary of the Communications Workers Union (CWU), said that the potential takeover by the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský should provide a moment to overhaul how the company is structured, which could mirror that of US-style public benefit corporations.

Cash offer from Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group still needs approval from shareholders and government

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The takeover of Royal Mail by the Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský has edged closer after its owner agreed terms and conditions on a £3.57bn offer.

In an update to the market on Wednesday, the postal service’s parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS), said it had accepted a cash offer from Křetínský’s EP Group.

Retaining Royal Mail’s proposals for the USO for a first-class postal service to anywhere in the country for a fixed price six days a week for a period of at least five years. IDS has suggested second-class post could be reduced to every other weekday.

Headquarters and tax residency to remain in the UK for five years.

Maintaining base salaries and benefits for staff for at least two years.

No changes to Royal Mail’s ownership for three years.

Watchdog says says repeated delays have caused unnecessary costs and strategy lacks a ‘clear timetable’

The government expects to have spent at least £4.7bn on introducing post-Brexit border controls, which have been repeatedly hit by delays, the public spending watchdog has warned.

Plans to bring in border checks on goods coming from the EU faced “significant issues” including critical shortages of inspectors before their introduction last month, the National Audit Office said in a report.