Norwegian Air posts £1.1bn loss as restructuring process goes on February 26, 2021 Beleaguered Norwegian Air today posted a loss of 12.8bn Norwegian crowns (£1.1bn) as the carrier continues its bid for survival through restructuring. The airline said that just 15 of its 131 aircraft were operating flights in the final quarter, mainly flying domestic routes within Norway. It carried just over 500,000 people during the period, down 92 per cent [...]
City Spirits: Japanese whiskymakers bid sayonara to imposters February 26, 2021 With a light now flickering at the end of our locked-down tunnel, thoughts have turned to travel – hardly surprising after being trapped in front of Netflix for what feels like centuries. Where to next? One movie in particular has begun to whet our appetite: the darkly comic Lost in Translation. From the sofa you [...]
Rightmove revenue falls by almost a third despite surge in visitor numbers February 26, 2021 Property giant Rightmove saw revenue fall by 29 per cent to £205.7m in 2020 as coronavirus restrictions battered the housing market. The firm felt the strain of providing a 75 per cent discount on invoice values to estate agents and new customers between April and July last year. Operating profit also dropped 37 per cent [...]
Gatwick crashes to £465.5m loss as passenger numbers collapse February 26, 2021 Gatwick Airport plunged to a £465.5m loss in 2020 as global air traffic and passenger numbers collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While the airport remained open throughout the pandemic, passenger numbers plunged 78 per cent as lockdowns and travel restrictions took their toll. Gatwick said all revenue streams were impacted and posted a loss [...]
Hopes of economic revival buoys business confidence February 26, 2021 Business confidence has crept into positive territory for the first time since March 2020. Confidence across all UK regions and nations, Lloyds Bank found, with the North West, East Midlands and London businesses the most positive. Lloyds surveyed businesses in the first half of February, before Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the ‘roadmap’ out of [...]
Kalifa Review: UK Fintech competition must play out on the global stage, not the national February 26, 2021 It’s a well-known fact that the UK is a global leader in Fintech, and that London sits at its helm. In 2020 alone, UK Fintech attracted $4.6 billion of venture capital investment, and some 44 per cent of Europe’s Fintech companies valued at over $1 billion (tech unicorns), hail from the UK. What is less [...]
A catch-up strategy? How Government can give young Brits a boost in Budget 2021 February 26, 2021 A catch-up strategy? How Government can give young Brits a boost in Budget 2021
London City boss joins calls for global approach to lifting travel restrictions February 26, 2021 The boss of London City airport has today joined calls for the government to lead the way in implementing a set of “globally recognised travel standards” to get the capital thriving again. His comments came as business body London First said the government should champion measures allowing visitors with either proof of vaccination or a [...]
Cyber gang hacks into Oxford University’s Covid-19 lab February 25, 2021 Oxford University Lab Strubi has been hacked by Cybergang selling secrets
Airbnb reports better than expected revenue drop amid biting pandemic restrictions February 25, 2021 Airbnb suffered a better than expected 22 per cent revenue drop in Q4 2020, having at one stage predicted 2020 revenue could be less than half of what it was in 2019. Airbnb’s total revenue of $3.4bn for 2020 decreased by only 30 per cent compared with $4.8bn in 2019. In Q4 2020, revenue of [...]