DM1ST(^6) DAILY MIRROR THURSDAY 05.03.
coronavirus crisis: fears for uk economy
passengers abroad waiting for flights
home today would be stranded.
It comes after the airline put in a
plea to the government for a
£100million emergency loan, with
2,000 jobs said to be at risk.
All bookings are known to have
slumped amid the coronavirus crisis.
Discussions with ministers and the
airline’s shareholders were yesterday
said to be ongoing, with
bosses said to be pinning
hopes on new Chancellor
Rishi Sunak reducing air
passenger duty on domestic flights in
next week’s Budget.
The loss of the Exeter-based firm
would hit regional airports hard as it
provides 40% of UK domestic flights.
The threat to Flybe’s survival
comes two months after the airline
was allowed to delay a tax bill.
been cancelled. Normal operations
have now resumed.”
But BBC business editor Simon
Jack said a company source had told
him: “The game is up.”
It was unclear whether Flybe
Empty
streets
..empty
shelves
bust unless they get Government bail-
outs. Hundreds of staff at Nike’s Sunder-
land HQ were told to stay away as
workers in hazmat suits entered amid
fears staff had contact with the virus.
London’s Regent Street, usually a sea
of shoppers, was nearly devoid of people.
Even Piccadilly Circus
- a byword for busyness
and a magnet for tourists - was empty.
Other cities were also
hit, with shoppers staying
away from the centre of
Manchester while an
Apple store in Belfast was
closed for a deep clean.
Growing caution among
shoppers is a severe blow
to the UK’s high streets,
with 45% of retailers telling
B y Dave BurkeTHE “game is up” for struggling
airline Flybe, insiders said last
night as stunned passengers had
flights diverted.
One traveller was trying to get
home to Edinburgh from Birmingham
when his plane unexpectedly landed
in Manchester after 8pm.
Speaking from the plane at
Manchester Airport, he said:
“The captain came out and
she said that airports are
refusing to refuel the
planes because of bad
press.” He then alleged that
she said the company had gone bust.
However Flybe said in a statement:
“Flybe can confirm that, following a
miscommunication regarding
re-fuelling this evening, two flights
were delayed and that due to the
crew now being out of hours, haveFlybe flights
divert amid
‘bust’ claim
WING & a PraYer Flybe is troubledpiccadilly 4.40pm
Shops, tourist attractions and
even football may feel squeeze
aN eerie silence descended on town
and city centres across the UK
yesterday as coronavirus tightened
its grip on the country.
After days of panic buying in super-
markets, many people
steered clear of shopping
areas as the number of
confirmed cases hit 87.
A drop-off in holiday-
makers, particularly from
the Far East, also appeared
to be taking its toll on
retailers and tourist sites.
Thousands of people
began working from home,
adding to the slowdown,
as the Bank of England
warned firms could gor etailers
are battling
significant
disruption
to supply
chainsRichaRd Lim boss at
retail economicsLondon streets usually full of tourists were deserted yesterday