Simon Calder

Simon Calder is one of the UK's most trusted and recognised travel journalists, both for his editorial and his broadcast work across a variety of major platforms. His illustrious career, spanning nearly 30 years at The Independent, grew from humble beginnings - his first travel job was at Gatwick airport, where he cleaned aircraft for Laker Airways and later worked as a security officer. After a stint writing guidebooks on hitchhiking, Cuba, Central America and Amsterdam, he first became The Independent's travel correspondent in 1994, where he earned the moniker “the Man Who Pays His Way” because he doesn't accept free travel. Simon is a keen consumer champion, known for his work holding companies to account when they let holidaymakers down; since Brexit, he has single-handedly fought for UK airlines to implement the correct EU passport rules and for passengers unfairly denied boarding to be duly compensated. Besides his work online, he produces a daily podcast and presents films for The Independent, plus is often seen on the BBC, Sky News, ITV and more giving his expert advice or providing insight on the latest breaking travel stories. In 2022, Sue Perkins presented him with the Outstanding Contribution Award at the TravMedia Awards for his world-leading coverage of the travel rules during the coronavirus pandemic.

Biography:  https://www.independent.co.uk/author/simon-calder

87%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.

Bias

88%

Examples:

  • Captain Tighe accuses Aer Lingus management of insisting pilots ‘sell their working conditions in exchange for any increase in pay.’
  • Captain Tighe says: ‘We are in this position because management have failed to provide us with a meaningful offer on pay that accounts for inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots to save Aer Lingus during the pandemic.’
  • The airline says it hoped to ‘continue to engage in meaningful direct discussions on productivity and flexibility proposals to enable increased pay’ but Ialpa refused it.

Conflicts of Interest

100%

Examples:

No current examples available.

Contradictions

85%

Examples:

  • IALPA are seeking a 24% pay rise.

Deceptions

75%

Examples:

  • Aer Lingus says it hoped to ‘continue to engage in meaningful direct discussions on productivity and flexibility proposals to enable increased pay’ but Ialpa refused it.
  • Captain Mark Tighe, president of Ialpa, says the pay claim simply equates to inflation since the last wage rise in 2019.
  • In response to the work to rule, Aer Lingus has cancelled an average of 26 flights per day during the first week of the action (with many more on the day of the strike).
  • Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) will also walk out on strike from 5am to 1pm on Saturday 29 June, aiming to disrupt the start of the school holiday exodus for many families.
  • The airline also says the union’s ‘failure to engage in the various independent processes in a responsible manner jeopardises our growth plans including our plans to fly to more destinations'

Recent Articles

Aer Lingus Pilots Initiate Work-to-Rule in Pursuit of 24% Pay Rise, Causing Flight Disruptions

Aer Lingus Pilots Initiate Work-to-Rule in Pursuit of 24% Pay Rise, Causing Flight Disruptions

Broke On: Wednesday, 26 June 2024 Aer Lingus pilots initiated an indefinite work-to-rule, seeking a 24% pay rise. IALPA members took this action after unsuccessful meetings at the Labour Court. The dispute has resulted in hundreds of cancelled flights and significant disruption for passengers. Aer Lingus expressed disappointment but will review the matter in July, urging IALPA to prioritize a fair agreement.

Imminent Volcanic Eruption in Iceland, Grindavik Town Evacuated

Broke On: Wednesday, 22 November 2023 Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) has issued a warning that a volcanic eruption could occur with as little as 30 minutes notice. The anticipated eruption is of the Fagradalsfjall volcano, with the town of Grindavik most at risk. The IMO has detected magmatic gas at a borehole in Svartsengi, signalling an imminent eruption. The town of Grindavik has already been evacuated. Stormy weather conditions are potentially affecting monitoring systems.