Ace Combat 8 – Tom Cruise eat your heart out (Bandai Namco)
The world’s favourite air combat simulator returns for another sortie, with a very modern take on aerial warfare and the fog (and clouds) of war.
With Red Dead Redemption 2 recently becoming the third best-selling video game of all-time it’s a constant frustration that video game sales figures are given out so inconsistently, because finding out that 2019’s Ace Combat 7 has sold a nominatively appropriate 7.5 million copies is something of a revelation. In retrospect, we’re not sure what we expected but it proves that, despite our fears, Ace Combat, and combat flight sims in general, are not quite the niche concern we assumed them to be.
Ace Combat 8: Wings Of Theve was announced in 2021 and got its first reveal at The Game Awards in 2025. We got to play several hours of the new game last month and spoke to brand director Kazutoki Kono and Ace Combat 8 producer Manabu Shimomoto. We’d met them before, prior to the launch of Ace Combat 7, and it’s interesting that despite the series’ continued success it still has no peers or rivals.
In the genre, the only thing that’s really happened in that time is that VR has fallen out of fashion – which is a real shame, as Ace Combat 7 had a fantastic VR mode – and Microsoft Flight Simulator has raised the profile of flight sims in general. Ace Combat has very little in common with that though, as while it’s a hardcore simulator, with little in the way of traditional gameplay, Ace Combat 8 is primarily an action game.
Advertisement
Ace Combat celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, although its lineage stretches back a few years before that, to the Air Combat series of arcade games. The modern games have three main staples: a highly complex backstory, set in an alternative world with similar but slightly more sci-fi technology; excellent graphics and a reasonable degree of realism; and amazing soundtracks.
All three elements were present and correct in Ace Combat 8, which once again takes place in the world of Strangereal. Although it is an ongoing story you don’t need to know anything beforehand, as the set-up is fairly straightforward: your homeland has been invaded and you’re part of one of the only fighting forces left, aboard a wandering aircraft carrier.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
Advertisement
The twist is that, in the first mission you take on the callsign of Rex, a legendary fighter pilot who turns out to be a complete fabrication, used to improve morale, with the previous incumbent being a total washout. Nevertheless, you accept the role and become the *Wings of Theve* (Theve being your capital city), ready to take on the war’s most dangerous missions.
Bandai Namco is careful not to call Ace Combat a simulation, although we’re not sure whether that’s because they’re being modest about its level of realism or because they don’t want to put people off. Depending on the difficulty level you choose, you have far more in the way of ammo than you would in reality, and the game makes sharp turns easier, but otherwise it’s relatively realistic, including the danger of stalling. You can survive some mid-air collisions but if you hit a mountain or ditch into the sea, that’s it.
Advertisement
Naturally, things start off fairly simple and the controls are really no more complex than any other first or third person shooter (you have the option of either view). Standard air-to-air missiles require a lock-on but are not guaranteed to hit unless you catch the enemy dead to rights. Equally, while you do have a limited amount of chaff and flares it’s relatively easy to dodge incoming missiles if you keep an eye on the radar and turn sharply as they close.
Although the combat is enormously enjoyable, and the graphics almost photorealistic at times (with none of the inconsistency or reliance on streaming seen in Microsoft Flight Simulator), the real magic in Ace Combat is making the missions varied enough that you never get tired of it.
We played more missions than we’re allowed to talk about, but things start off as you’d imagine, with some simple dogfights, but this quickly evolves into land battles as well, where you use ground-to-air missiles and bombs to take out targets and, in one memorable early mission, a fleet of ships. This is best achieved with specialised anti-ship missiles, which you have a much more limited supply of, as you swoop around an island, trying to take them out before they escape, but while still fending off defending fighters.
There’s a squadron of evil nemeses to look out for (Bandai Namco)
The visuals throughout all this are stunning and while we found the first person view (with cockpit turned off) the most practical, the game records everything as you go and you can watch the whole mission as a replay when you’re done, complete with Top Gun style cinematic camera angles and some amazing rain and cloud effects.
The latter is apparently the result of a lot of hard work, with a specially designed graphics engine called Cloudy that has been added to Unreal Engine. The benefit of this is highlighted in one mission where you’re chasing implausibly gigantic flying wings but where your radar doesn’t work at long range. Instead, you have to follow contrails in the sky and pass through angry thunderclouds that threaten to destroy your electronics.
Advertisement
That mission is relatively easy, especially if you use the wingman controls to make sure everyone zeroes in on the same giant plane once you find it – and protects you from fighters while you’re looking for the others. There’s also a range of special weapons you can choose before you start, the most tempting being a limited use weapon that lets you lock on and fire up to four missiles at once, like you’re playing After Burner.
You can also pick which plane you pilot before you start, which has a big effect on how a mission plays out. Despite the fantasy world of Strangereal, all of the planes are real world fighters, although they all have to be unlocked from what is essentially a skill tree, using earned in-game currency. But as long as you’ve got that you can make sensible choices, like using a F-14D for air combat missions and an A-10C Thunderbolt II against land targets.
Take on the mantle (Bandai Namco)
In the most extreme example of the game’s near future sci-fi element this includes a gigantic ‘land battleship’ which is treated entirely seriously and can only be taken out by following a complex plan, involving destroying its caterpillar tracks by exposing side panels for a brief window of opportunity, provided by bomb trucks on the ground and by collapsing skyscrapers into its path.
Everything about what we played of the game was impressive, with one exception. The developers made a point of saying that the storytelling and dialogue is less anime influenced than before, and more grounded, but while that’s true it’s still very clunky and awkward. It wouldn’t matter much but all your wingmates, and other allies and enemies, are constantly talking.
Some of it furthers the story but a lot of it is just meant to be immersive chatter. Even that would be fine, except the game is surprisingly reserved about pointing out mission objectives and how the battlefield situation changes over the course of a mission. Your wingmates don’t do nearly enough to help provide helpful information and even when they do say something useful it can get lost in the background noise.
Advertisement
It was only a minor problem during the preview though and will likely become even less of an issue once you get used to it in the main game. It’s certainly not enough to ruin what seems to be another welcome entry in the most accessible, enjoyable, and commercially successful combat flight sim on the market.
Formats: PC (previewed), PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X/S Publisher: Bandai Namco Developer: Bandai Namco Aces Release Date: 2026
GC: I’m sure you don’t remember but I met you both before, eight years ago at Gamescom.
Advertisement
KK: There was only once that we travelled together to Gamescom, that was Ace Combat 7. That must’ve been when we met.
GC: So much has happened in the world, and in the games industry, since then. I’m curious, how have those many changes influenced you and Ace Combat 8?
MS: First of all, the universe of Ace Combat is set in this Strangereal fictional world. We take great care in making everything seem believable, but everything is based on prediction of the near future. But it’s not set in the real world, it’s very much fictional.
The production started in 2020 and we had predicted the near future at the time but the truth is, coincidentally, the current world seems to have mirrored what was predicted.
Advertisement
KK: With Ace Combat 8, what is depicted is very much a prediction of near future technology or information that is likely to be available very soon. But one of the elements that I have a real-life concern about is social media, because with what is currently happening it is very difficult to tell what information is true or false.
That creates a lot of confusion in that sphere and similar things are mirrored in Ace Combat 8. There is a presence – Fake Wings, that you may be yet to come across – where information regarding that is affected by the people and there are reactions against that as well. So there is that sense of information manipulation, that is depicted here.
Most planes are real but some are more fantastical (Bandai Namco)
GC: I’ve always assumed that the sci-fi elements in the game were purely to add variety and keep things unpredictable, but the future seems to be catching up very quickly, with things I never expected to see in my lifetime. How has that affected how you approach this new game and the series in general?
KK: The sci-fi element being utilised for gameplay hasn’t really changed and won’t change in the future. It is a motif to enhance the gameplay but in the Ace Combat series, because the visuals and aesthetic elements have really advanced and keep advancing.
Even though the gameplay is very enjoyable, if nothing looks realistic, visually, there is going to be a dissonance for the players. So the technologies, visuals, and information all need to align, because we don’t really want to create a completely removed fantasy world that seems unreal.
Advertisement
Things feeling and looking realistic is very important. So if we were to put a priority order, gameplay is most important but second is a believable sense of Strangereal, to create immediacy for the players, is very important as well.
But we don’t anticipate a great land battleship to attack a city anytime soon.
GC: Well, not this year anyway.
Both: [laughs]
Advertisement
KK: But that really shows that gameplay is at the forefront for us.
GC: You were wise to set the series in this alternative reality, as it’s quite disquieting to think about what all these vehicles and weapons are being used for in real-life at the moment. It’s not something a lot of people would want to celebrate and yet flying a jet fighter is undeniably fun. Nevertheless, I’ve always seen the series as having an anti-war theme, is that how you see it?
MS: This goes back to what we were discussing earlier on, about the great acceleration in the speed of advancement in the sci-fi elements and real-life technology. For example, with Ace Combat 7 drones were heavily featured but at the time it wasn’t really in our day-to-day life.
Advertisement
GC: Yes, that seems the perfect example.
MS: But it became real-life quite quickly. So similar things happened with Ace Combat 8 as well. At the time of the production stages it was seen as something that was out of reach and near future, but coincidentally the timing just seemed to converge.
Just as a foundation, the team is creating an entertainment product, so a sense of fun is extremely important for the players. But to really bring that onto the realistic level… to make it a lot more accessible and to make it even more enjoyable, we do create a universe that is very in-depth in detail and we do take that role quite seriously. We do really go into the details in this process of layering the story, so it’s actually great that you are asking these questions, as it shows that there is a thirst for this type of element.
The plot is very involved (Bandai Namco)
GC: 7.5 million is not a niche franchise and yet there’s very few games like Ace Combat. Do you feel that customers are being underestimated in terms of what effort they’re willing to put into a game, in terms of complicated or unusual controls and concepts?
KK: In 2026 there are a surprising number of flight shooter games within the industry. So this genre seems to be thriving, especially in the independent games sector. So Ace Combat will always be at the top but it’s actually great that it’s a very active genre.
Advertisement
This franchise is based on a 30 year legacy and there is that core element of the players going through many different challenges to become the ace pilot. So there is a hero creation element. The perspective and angle is slightly different to a simple flight shooter; it’s very difficult to replicate for the other publishers.
GC: I wonder if Microsoft Flight Simulator has helped to raise the profile of flight sims in general, even though it’s not a shooter?
MS: Well, Microsoft Flight Simulator is a simulator, so the core focus is different to Ace Combat, because Ace Combat provides a flight shooter experience in really living through this journey of becoming an ace pilot, so there is a strong narrative attached to it – so the outcome is completely different, so therefore it tends to attract different demographics.
You soon get to know all your wingmates (Bandai Namco)
GC: Why is the music always so good in Ace Combat? Why do you make that a priority? It’s unfortunate it doesn’t seem to get much acknowledgement. I nominated it for The Game Awards, but I don’t think Ace Combat 7 even got through to the final stage that year.
Both: [laughs]
Advertisement
KK: The composers that we work with are greatly skilled in creating these melodious grand scale scores. And the songs too, fit perfectly in time with the ace pilot experience. When it’s flying it really fits with the dynamism of what the player is experiencing. So there is that aspect.
But separately, I agree, the soundtracks of the Ace Combat series are extremely popular worldwide but it hasn’t really received that official recognition within The Game Awards. The sound creators have really worked hard for Ace Combat 8 and they are aiming to get that recognition.
The cloud effects are really good (Bandai Namco)
GC: Just to end on something that we discussed at Gamescom, but I’m a big fan of simulations of fictional vehicles, such as combat space simulators and mech games. Considering how successful Ace Combat is, would you consider making a game based on something more fantastical? While maintaining your grounded style?
MS: Because the game feel of Ace Combat is very realistic we have been approached by various companies to create something similar, including the aviation industry. However, the reality is that Ace Combat team is not large and we are fairly limited in capacity. Therefore if we do opt to create something like that we won’t be able to proceed with future content for Ace Combat.
So there are a great number of fans who are looking for future instalments and first and foremost our focus is on providing the entertainment content, so we have no plans to create a simulator-esque title.
Advertisement
GC: My pipe dream of a Xevious space combat simulator is doomed…
Both: [laughs]
KK: Well, you have a role to play, David. If you write a great article and Ace Combat sales greatly increase then maybe we can increase the number of projects.
GC: OK, if you win that Game Awards music category, you must promise to make that game.
Advertisement
Both: [laughs]
MS: [in English] Thank you very much!
GC: Thank you very much for your time.
KK: Thank you.
Advertisement
That’s Kazutoki Kono on the left and Manabu Shimomoto on the right (Nagayama Tohru)
Tonight sees France and the Ivory Coast face off in an international friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup
France and Ivory Coast meet in an international friendly match tonight as preparations ramp up for the 2026 World Cup.
Advertisement
The tournament in Mexico, Canada and the US kicks off next week, with excitement building ahead of the biggest edition of the competition ever held.
A total of 48 teams are involved, with France among the favourites to win the whole thing.
Their squad is littered with world-class talent, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, William Saliba and Michael Olise set to lead Les Bleus.
Tonight’s opponents have been drawn in a group with Germany, Curacao and Ecuador and will hold ambitions of progressing to the knockout rounds.
Advertisement
Here is everything you need to know about the match tonight
What time is kick-off?
France v Ivory Coast kicks off at 8.10pm on Thursday, June 4, at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France.
Is the game on TV?
You are in luck.
Amazon Prime will be showing this match in the UK but you will have to pay £2.99 for the privilege to watch.
Advertisement
What about streaming?
The match will be available to stream via Prime Video TV and accessible on mobile devices, tablets or smart TVs.
Quotes corner
Didier Deschamps: “We’ve built up expectations because of our results.
“We lifted the trophy in 2018 and reached the final in 2022, so our supporters are naturally expecting to see France [still in the running] by mid-July.
“We’re one of the 10 or 12 nations that can realistically set their sights on becoming world champions.
Advertisement
“But do you know how many there will be at the end? Just one! That means at least 11 disappointed nations.
“They (the players) won’t all be able to play
“There’s a lot of promise, but we need the right chemistry, without letting individual egos get in the way.
“We need balance, and above all, compatibility and partnerships.”
Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson and Petty Officer Owen Green were praised as “the best of our Armed Forces”
Tim Hanlon News Reporter and Adam Care Live News Reporter
17:49, 04 Jun 2026Updated 17:58, 04 Jun 2026
The three members of the Royal Navy who died in a helicopter crash in Devon on Wednesday have been named. The UK’s only serving female commando was among the three people killed in a helicopter crash in Devon yesterday.
Lieutenant Lily-Mae Fisher, 31, died alongside Lieutenant Commander Chris Gayson, 42, and Petty Officer Owen Green, 24, following the incident at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Advertisement
Defence Secretary John Healey described all three as “dedicated and highly valued members of their squadrons who embodied the best of our Armed Forces”.
The Merlin Mk4 helicopter crashed into a field during a training exercise, leaving the aircraft completely destroyed.
A tribute from the Royal Navy reads: “All three dedicated their lives to serving the Royal Navy and their country.
“Our thoughts remain with their families, friends and colleagues and we continue to demand their privacy is respected at this time.
Advertisement
“We also ask anyone in the vicinity of the crash site to understand the poignancy of this, not to share footage and hand any footage to the relevant investigating authority.”
The Royal Navy told how Lily Mae was “active” from a young age.
Advertisement
“Lily-Mae competed for her regional Netball team, and represented England in Junior Lacrosse and Pole Vault. At university she joined the Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron where she discovered a passion for flying,” it stated.
“Lily-Mae represented Great Britain at the European Age Group Triathlon Championships in September 2021 whilst also completing Elementary Flying Training.
“During a break in flying training Lily-Mae attended the All Arms Commando Course, becoming Britain’s only serving female Royal Navy Commando.”
Lily-Mae was tragically killed in a helicopter incident on her final assessment of flying training and was due to be awarded her Pilot’s Wings in June 2026.
Her family said: “Lily-Mae was an extraordinary woman, daughter, sister, and partner.
“To say she was full of life is an understatement: she took every opportunity to push her limits, achieve more, and bring out the best in those around her.
“We are so proud of everything she accomplished. She has left an immeasurable hole in our lives, and in all the lives she has touched and inspired. The family kindly ask for time and space at this difficult time.”
Advertisement
Lt Cdr Gayson joined the RN as a Warfare (Pilot) Officer in Sep 2008. He gained his wings in October 2012 and served with 845 NAS flying the Sea King Mk4, which included flying in Norway, Jordan, Afghanistan and Embarked Operations.
in 2020 he assumed the role of Senior Pilot of Sixty Squadron, where he delivered advanced helicopter training to RAF and Commando Helicopter Force Support Helicopter pilots and upgraded to an ‘A categorisation’ instructor.
“An utmost professional, his leadership of the Operational Conversion Flight was exemplary, and his loss is a huge blow to the Royal Navy, Force, and Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.
Advertisement
And a statement from his family read: “Chris was an extremely kind and gentle family man who loved his entire family dearly. He was also passionate about and dedicated to his job in the Royal Navy.”
Petty Officer Green joined the Royal Navy in January 2022, beginning initial training at HMS Raleigh.
“He demonstrated a consistently high level of professional competence and dedication throughout his career as an Aircrewman with 845 Naval Air Squadron,” said the Royal Navy.
Advertisement
“His deployment on Operation Clockwork 26 was particularly notable; he accumulated the highest-flying hours among his peers in demanding Arctic conditions, earning his Arctic environmental qualification and establishing himself as one of the squadron’s most experienced operators in extreme environments.”
His family said: “Losing Owen has left us all devastated. His life was far too short, and our hearts will forever be broken. He was a caring and devoted son, brother, grandson, and partner to Iona, whom he loved and cherished.
“His kindness, warmth, and character touched everyone who knew him. We are so proud of him achieving his life’s goal to serve in the Royal Navy as a Junglie Aircrewman and are grateful for the joy he brought into ours and Iona’s lives. He is so loved and will remain in our hearts forever.”
The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said following the tragedy: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.
Advertisement
“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”
Alonso hoping to oversee another Chelsea rebuild (Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has urged his old side to swoop for Arsenal target Julian Alvarez, believing he would be a ‘perfect’ addition at Stamford Bridge.
The Madrid side have insisted they will not do business with the Catalan giants this summer but will also have to fend off interest from the Gunners.
After their Premier League title success, Arsenal want to keep strengthening this summer with Alvarez regarded as a dream signing to further bolster their front line with Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi another option being considered.
Advertisement
All the World Cup action
Get everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day. Sign up here.
Joao Pedro finished his first campaign in west London with an impressive haul of 20 goals in all competitions but Chelsea were short elsewhere with Liam Delap managing just two all season.
After a wretched 10th place finish, Xabi Alonso is now in place to lift the club from their slump with Johnson eager to see the Blues bring in another proven goal scorer.
Alvarez is wanted by Arsenal (Picture: Europa Press)
‘You can’t compete at the top of the Premier League without an out-and-out striker scoring 20 goals a season, and Chelsea don’t have someone of that description at the moment.
‘Those are the types of players you need to drag you through games when you’re poor, to score a goal out of nothing so you win games instead of drawing to opposition you should be beating if you want to compete.’
Advertisement
Despite Pedro’s impressive haul, Johnson believes a natural no9 is required with Alvarez perfectly fitting the bill.
Arteta wants another striker this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I think Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid would be perfect. He seems like he’s on the move this summer and that’s exactly the type of player Chelsea need to go out and snap up,’ Johnson explained.
‘He’s a great player, his work ethic is absolutely through the roof, and he’s a perfectly well-rounded striker.
‘He has proven in the past he can score goals in the Premier League during his time at Man City, and if they could do a sensible deal, offering someone the other way, for example, then that would be a brilliant signing.
‘Chelsea fans would be buzzing with seeing him coming through the door.’
Ofsted found that nursery staff did not always notice and remove potential hazards
A nursery near Cambridgeshire will close after being told it “needs attention” by Ofsted. A recent inspection found that staff at Unity Stars, on Chalkstone Way in Haverhill, did not always notice and remove potential hazards.
Advertisement
The report, published on Tuesday, June 2, rated the nursery as “needs attention” in all areas assessed. The report states that there are “inconsistencies in the quality of teaching and staff’s interactions throughout the nursery”.
Inspectors praised that children are greeted at the door by “warm and nurturing staff”. It added: “Children play cooperatively and make friendships with their peers. They look forward to playing outdoors. Children delight in tipping water onto the concrete and splashing in puddles, giggling as they make patterns on the floor.”
A spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership, which Unity Stars is a part of, said: “The Ofsted inspection highlighted many positive aspects of our nursery, particularly our strong safeguarding culture. Inspectors recognised that children feel safe, secure and well cared for.
“They also noted the warm, nurturing relationships between staff and children, with many children confidently seeking comfort and support from familiar adults. We are especially proud that our settling-in processes and close partnerships with parents were praised, helping children to feel happy and confident when they attend.”
Advertisement
The inspectors found that on occasion, “staff are not always noticing and removing potential hazards posed to children swiftly enough”. The report adds: “This is particularly apparent at times of transition. For example, when children prepare to move outdoors to play, there is a lack of embedded and well-structured routines.”
Leaders have risk assessments in place for each room and staff can explain these, the inspection found. “However, leaders are not monitoring staff’s practice closely enough to ensure staff are continuously alert to and managing potential risks effectively,” the report states.
In an example, Ofsted said that towels around the base of the water tray are not replaced swiftly enough, when they are sodden. This means at times, the floor becomes slippery and “increases the risk of children or staff slipping”.
The spokesperson for Unity Schools Partnership said that “as part of the inspection, Ofsted identified some areas where we can improve further” and have since welcomed this feedback and “implemented changes as a result”.
Advertisement
The spokesperson continued: “The report also highlighted that children enjoy their time at the nursery. They benefit from healthy meals, develop friendships and engage in a wide range of play experiences, particularly outdoors. It was also encouraging to see recognition of children’s growing independence and their development in areas such as physical skills and early mathematics.”
Since the inspection, the partnership, of which Unity Stars is a part of, said that they have “continued to experience difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient and adequately qualified staff at Chalkstone Way”. As a result, Unity Stars has taken the “difficult decision to wind-down this setting”, with its final day of operation being July 17, 2026.
The spokesperson added: “We are working with families to find suitable alternative provision, including at our flourishing Norton Road setting. In making this decision, we have been clear that the children’s safety and educational progress must be our greatest considerations.
“Without certainty that stable and high-quality staffing could be sustained, we decided that winding-down the setting at Chalkstone Way was the right thing to do.”
This is due to continuing international airspace constraints leading to significantly increased flight duration and a challenging cost environment, the airline said.
IndiGo will cut its flight operations to and from Manchester from August 31, 2026.
It said it will continue to operate all its remaining long-haul flights as planned.
Advertisement
IndiGo also plans to return one of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, taken on damp lease in 2025, to Norse Atlantic Airways.
IndiGo had damp leased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways in early 2025, and the objective was to make strategic inroads to establish the IndiGo brand in the European market, ahead of the commencement of services using its own Airbus A350 aircraft.
However, the airline has since experienced a significant impact of industry‑wide challenges, including geopolitical developments in the Middle East, rising aviation turbine fuel (ATF) costs, severe airspace constraints, and foreign exchange volatility, resulting in operating costs being considerably higher than originally thought.
Abhijit Dasgupta, senior vice president – network planning & revenue management at IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high-potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.
Do I need travel insurance?
“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints coupled with dramatically escalating costs compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.
Advertisement
“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.
“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.
“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”
It is not yet confirmed when the Manchester flights will resume.
Advertisement
What to do if you have IndiGo flights booked
If you had trips booked with IndiGo to or from Manchester Airport, the airline has reassured passengers that anyone affected will be assisted with all possible options, including alternate travel arrangements or refunds where applicable.
Ryanair cuts flights to Manchester Airport
The news comes as Ryanair also announced it would cut flights to Manchester Airport.
Ryanair has cut flights to 19 airports across the UK and Europe recently due to rising costs, including Manchester and London Stansted.
The likes of Porto, Milan Bergamo, Berlin Brandenburg, Krakow, and Budapest are among the European airports affected by the cuts.
Are you going on holiday this year? Tell us where you’re travelling to in the comments below.
“We have committed, a number of times and in a number of ways including in writing before this most recent industrial action, to these proposals being voluntary. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading the public in order to justify strike action over proposals that would give Tube drivers more time off and create a more modern, efficient Tube service.”
This comes after a meeting Peel Land had with Westhoughton residents on Tuesday (June 2), which laid out the plans for Peel Land in more detail.
Westhoughton councillor David Chadwick – former Mayor of Bolton – put out a statement in opposition to the plans, reiterating points he made last week in an interview with The Bolton News.
A new link road easing congestion at Chequerbent is a key element of the development (Image: Peel Land)
Cllr Chadwick said: “Peel discussed plans for a link road from Snydale Road all the way down to North Road in Atherton. This would be funded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority with the aim of improving the flow of traffic around M61 junction 5, where traffic has backed up for many years. This road would be a single-lane road, not a dual carriageway.
“There was also a discussion regarding an additional health centre. The NHS have expressed desires for the health provision to be off the Lee Hall site but with a contribution from Peel for funding a health centre.
Advertisement
“All things considered, I still remain vehemently opposed to building on Lee Hall and the loss of more greenbelt land in Westhoughton. Once green spaces are gone, they are gone forever.
Westhoughton residents gathered to discuss concerns over the Lee Hall development (Image: NQ)
“Hall Lee Bank Park is already classified as ancient woodland, but any development close by would be to the detriment of residents and wildlife. Deer are already found wandering residential estates regularly having been displaced by rapidly expanding developments.”
Bolton West MP Phil Brickell also formally objected. He said: “Westhoughton has seen a huge amount of development over the past two decades without the necessary supporting infrastructure being delivered alongside it.
“The result is a town where residents increasingly face severe congestion, overstretched public services, and growing pressure on local infrastructure. This application risks compounding these existing problems.
Advertisement
“The most immediate concern raised by residents is traffic congestion. The local road network is already struggling to cope with the current demand, particularly along Park Road, Leigh Road, and Wigan Road.
Campaigners highlight wildlife habitats and flood-prone areas during a site walk off Lee Bank. (Image: NQ)
“At times these routes are routinely congested, causing significant delays for residents, commuters, and businesses.”
The plans include provision for a Link Road between Westhoughton and Atherton, with the aim of reducing congestion on the Chequerbent roundabout.
Also included in the plans is funding for a new health centre, though there is debate whether the centre will be on or off the Lee Hall site.
Advertisement
A spokesperson for Peel Land said: “We recognise there is a critical need for investment in the road infrastructure in the Westhoughton area, and after historic failures to deliver this new link road, Lee Hall is now the only practical and viable solution to address the congestion at Chequerbent.
“The successful bid to the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund means that £69.8m has now been allocated to deliver the Park Avenue link road. This represents the best chance in a generation to make this new road a reality. This can now only happen if the plans for Lee Hall are approved. Refusal will only frustrate efforts to build the road and see congestion and delays in the area get much worse over the next few years.
“The approval of Lee Hall will also deliver much-needed affordable and family homes, health facilities, a new primary school, a community hall, neighbourhood stores, allotments and a significant 15- acre public park. It is an infrastructure-led proposal that responds to local needs and will realise a long-held plan for the sustainable growth of the town dating back to the 1960s.”
The British star will not be competing in her specialist 800m event this time around, instead lining up in the women’s 400m
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson returns to action tonight as she begins her outdoor season at the Rome Diamond League.
Advertisement
The British star will not be competing in her specialist 800m event this time around, instead lining up in the women’s 400m as part of her long-term ambition to improve her speed and target new personal milestones.
Hodgkinson is one of several big names competing at the Stadio Olimpico, with American sprint superstar Noah Lyles and Welsh speedster Jeremiah Azu also in action in a stacked programme featuring some of the world’s best athletes.
What time is Keely Hodgkinson running the 400m tonight?
Hodgkinson is scheduled to compete in the women’s 400m at 9.15pm BST on Thursday, June 4.
The race marks the first outdoor appearance of her 2026 campaign and comes as she continues her preparations for a busy summer season.
Advertisement
What TV channel is the Rome Diamond League on?
Live television coverage of the Rome Diamond League will be shown on BBC Three from 8pm BST.
Viewers can also watch online via the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC Sport website.
How to watch the Rome Diamond League on TV
The meeting can be streamed live through BBC iPlayer on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs and desktop computers.
Coverage begins at 8pm BST, with a host of world-class athletes featuring throughout the evening.
Advertisement
Rome Diamond League schedule (BST)
8.04pm – Women’s 400m hurdles
8.07pm – Men’s high jump
8.27pm – Men’s shot put
8.28pm – Women’s 100m hurdles
Advertisement
8.35pm – Men’s long jump
8.38pm – Women’s 5000m
9.04pm – Men’s 110m hurdles
9.15pm – Women’s 400m (Keely Hodgkinson)
Advertisement
9.27pm – Women’s 200m
9.37pm – Women’s 1500m
9.52pm – Men’s 100m (Noah Lyles, Jeremiah Azu and Marcell Jacobs)
Who else is competing?
Alongside Hodgkinson, Team GB interest comes from Georgia Hunter Bell in the women’s 1500m, while Amy Hunt and Dina Asher-Smith take on Olympic champion Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 200m.
Advertisement
The men’s 100m is one of the highlights of the night, featuring reigning world champion Noah Lyles, Britain’s Jeremiah Azu and Italy’s Marcell Jacobs.
Keely Hodgkinson’s behaviour has drawn attention recently
Keely Hodgkinson’s latest comments speak volumes after World Athletics chief Seb Coe spoke glowingly about her authenticity. Hodgkinson, 24, is set to make her 400 metres Diamond League debut in Rome this Thursday.
Advertisement
The sprint will serve as a step towards maintaining her dominance in the 800m, which she claimed a silver medal in at Tokyo 2020 before clinching Olympic gold at Paris 2024. The Team GB hero broke the indoor world record over 800m in February and is looking to build on that success today.
Yet, by looking at Hodgkinson’s demeanour and the way she presents herself alone, one would not be able to tell she is an athlete at the top of her game. That’s due to her incredibly down to earth character, which was recently lauded by Coe.
Hodgkinson displayed her authenticity once more ahead of Thursday’s Diamond League action by saying how grateful she was just to be on the start line – something unheard of among the competitiveness of elite athletics.
Speaking on Wednesday at a press conference, Hodgkinson said: “I am really excited for tomorrow. I am grateful to have the opportunity to race some of the best girls in the world.
“I am very privileged to be on that start line with them, so I am hoping they pull something great out of me. I’ll be using tomorrow as a stimulus of fun, to be competitive and to also do something different.”
“I am genuinely in a place in my life where I have everything that I can want. I am happy, I love what I do. I wake up and go to work every day, I just love it.”
Coe, who has spent the last decade as the president of World Athletics, said last month that he considers the Mancunian to be a breath of fresh air, hailing her as the most genuine person he knows.
Advertisement
The former Team GB star, 69, shared a story about running into Hodgkinson during her birthday celebrations as an example of how normal and grounded the Manchester athlete is. However, he suggested her all-round behaviour points to the same level of authenticity.
During an appearance on The Sports Agents podcast, Coe was asked by Gabby Logan about Hodgkinson’s comments in March relating to West Ham United, tenants of the Olympic Stadium. “The GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history,” the world indoor champion wrote on social media.
“I love Keely because you will only get authenticity,” Coe said. “There’s none of this ‘Oh, I’ll see how I feel tomorrow’ or ‘One match at a time’ – she absolutely tells it as it is. I think she’s joyous company apart from anything.
Advertisement
“This year is probably the biggest year in British athletics… we’ve got a Commonwealth Games, we’ve got a European Championships, we’ve got a great Diamond League. It’s probably the best year for athletics in the UK since 2017.
“Keely’s not wrong. I’m pleased she knows her worth… she’s off-the-graph good but if you look statistically she’s still got a couple of years before she hits her peak.”
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login