News

Air Canada resumes Dublin flights

Air Canada has resumed passenger flights from Ireland, with an initial three-times weekly, non-stop service between Dublin and its Toronto hub. aircanada0720

The service features Air Canada signature class, premium economy and economy seating.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will also carry a range of commodities, including general cargo and temperature-controlled goods, machinery and industrial parts, and aircraft spares.

Pret closes UK cafés

Sandwich chain Pret a Manger is permanently closing a number of coffee shops across the UK. pretamanger0720

The move casts doubts on its plans to open in Ireland.

It was reported in 2019 the company was set to open in here early this year, with the group understood to have identified two locations, including one in Dublin city centre.

Yesterday the company said it is to permanently shut 30 of its stores in the UK after footfall was hit by the coronavirus lockdown.

It is understood that at least 1,000 jobs are at risk at the chain as part of the restructuring plan.

The company said recent sales have fallen by almost three-quarters - 74pc - compared with the same period last year.

A report by economist Anthony Foley on the impact of Covid-19 on the drinks industry concludes that consumer demand will be lower after lockdown due to higher pub dub0720 unemployment and reduced earnings while it will likely be 2023 before Ireland can reach pre-Covid labour market conditions

The Drinks Ireland has caledl for a temporary reduction in the VAT rate on alcohol sales in pubs to ‘support a 7,000-strong network of nationwide pubs that will struggle in the short-term’

The report finds that most bars will reopen with only 40% of their customers, indefinitely

The ‘Reduce VAT on On-Trade Alcohol’ report was published as part of the ‘Protect our Pubs’ campaign to highlight the role pubs play in communities and the loss should some never reopen

Says Tony Foley: ‘Our most optimistic market expectations for the second half of 2020 are that on-licence alcohol sales will be at most 50% of what is usual’

‘Even if pubs regain half their normal capacity by the end of 2020, which is an optimistic scenario, as many as 22,500 jobs could be permanently lost, not to mention countless more in supporting trades like catering, security, and entertainment,’

LVA condemns street drinking

The trade association for Dublin pubs has condemned landlords who sell alcohol to people who drank it on the streets outside their premises. crowd

The comments from the Licensed Vintners Association follow the broadcast on social media of videos shot Saturday evening of Dublin city centre streets packed with revelers.

The videos have sparked warnings by health workers about the risks to people who don’t wear face coverings or socially distance.

An LVA spokesperson said the body “utterly condemns drinking on street scenes which jeopardise public health”.

“This is in no way acceptable and completely jeopardises public health, given the lack of social distancing observed. We are reminding pubs who are serving takeout of their responsibilities.

Travel restrictions to remain

The Cabinet is expected to decide to-day not to lift travel restrictions, including the 14-day quarantine requirement for people arriving from other countries.

dublinairport0620 At last Friday’s meeting of the Covid-19 Cabinet committee, Ministers heard the increasing risks of a spike in infections triggered by travellers arriving here mitigated against an early reopening. A “green list” of countries which would escape quarantine requirements will not now be published until July 20th at the earliest. Government sources say the new administration is adopting a cautious approach, following the early lifting of many lockdown requirements by the previous government.