A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
JetBlue to link with Aer Lingus
JetBlue Airways, the New York-based discount carrier, and Aer Lingus will release details of their planned partnership today.
The agreement will provide "an innovative way to connect customers", JetBlue chief executive Dave Barger said yesterday in New York.
Spokesman Sebastian White declined to give details.
JetBlue has already said it will link its website with that of Aer Lingus, allowing travellers to book flights on both airlines.
Meanwhile, Dr Colin Hunt, a former adviser to the minister for finance and minister for transport, has been nominated to the board of Aer Lingus by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen. Dr Hunt is division director at Macquarie Capital.
Mr Cowen also nominated Chris Wall, an existing non-executive director, and indicated he would renominate Francis Hackett when his term expires on February 9th.
The Government has the right to nominate directors to the airline's board in proportion to the size of its 25.4 per cent stake. - (Additional reporting: Bloomberg)
Drop in inward investment
The gap narrowed between the Republic's inward and outward foreign direct investment in 2006, the Central Statistics Office said yesterday. The amount invested here by companies based abroad came to €118.8 billion, down from €138.6 billion a year earlier.
Foreign direct investment by Irish companies was €93.6 billion in 2006, up from €88.3 billion in 2005.
European countries provided the bulk of inward investment in 2006. US companies invested €9.2 billion, down from €11.7 billion a year earlier.
Most money invested abroad was also focused on Europe, with the UK accounting for €24.3 billion. The US took €11.5 billion. Most investment on both sides came in the services sector.
Ryanair court order enforced
The master of the High Court has given the go-ahead to Ryanair to have a UK court order enforced here to restrain an aircraft maintenance company from failing to provide the airline with the necessary authority to use hangar space at Dublin airport.
Ryanair obtained an injunction in the London high court on January 17th last restraining SR Technics Ireland Ltd from revoking a licence Ryanair had to occupy hangar space at the airport, where it brings in aircraft for maintenance. Barra Faughnan, for Ryanair, said he had been advised that no appeal had been lodged against the London court's order.
24% of firms not using An Post
An increasing number of companies are turning away from An Post to alternative postal service providers, according to ComReg.
Some 24 per cent of business respondents to its 2007 Business and Residential Postal Survey use alternatives, it said. However, satisfaction with the postal service rose from 48 per cent to 61 per cent.
The survey also found that there was an increase in the amount of mail sent by households, from 3.06 items to 4.5 items a week, while the number of items delivered increased from 8.11 to 9.02.
One in 10 respondents was dissatisfied with the postal service. Of those who made a complaint, four out of 10 were dissatisfied with the way it was handled.
Profit rises for Budweiser firm
Anheuser-Busch Cos said quarterly profit rose, as the brewer sold more beer despite the slowing economy.
The maker of Budweiser reported fourth-quarter net income of $214.1 million (€144 million), or 29 cents per share, compared to $190.7 million, or 25 cents per share, a year ago.
Quarterly net sales rose to $3.69 billion from $3.43 billion a year ago. - (Reuters)
