ON MONDAY, Etihad Airways announced details of its annual two-for-one offer for its Pearl business class services from Ireland to Asia and Australia.
It’s aimed at filling empty seats in the quiet period before Christmas.
But a check with last year’s prices shows a steep increase by the Abu Dhabi airline.
Prices on flights to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane have increased by 24 per cent.
Fares to Johannesburg and Cape Town are up 19 per cent and Bangkok has risen by 11 per cent. Has business class air travel from Ireland rebounded in spite of the recession?
Etihad would only say that the fare rises were down to “market forces”.
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This recession of ours might be no laughing matter but Michael Cullen, editor of Marketingmagazine, is doing his best to lighten the mood with the launch of a book of jokes. Called Ash, Sure What of It, it retails at €6.99.
Nice one Michael, we could do with a laugh.
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With commissions in Ireland thin on the ground, architects HKR are looking overseas for new work.
The company has won contracts to design an airport in the Middle East and a large leisure resort in Slovenia.
But its office in Manchester has closed as part of a restructuring of its British arm, which will now focus on London.
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Latest accounts for private bus operator Citylink show that profits last year more than trebled to €858,787.
The directors report states that the bus group has outsourced the operation of its routes to Callinan Coaches in Galway from July 2010.
