UK Markit PMI strengthens
The UK’s Markit PMI, an index for the business conditions in the manufacturing sector, stood at 53.3 in August. The figure beat July’s measure by 5 points and exceeded estimates by 4.3 points.
The indicator suggests that, only two months past the UK’s Brexit vote, the manufacturing industry has moved towards a positive growth outlook again.
The Euro-Zone Markit PMI on the other hand came in at 51.7, down 0.1 point from July as well as analysts’ estimate. The measure adds to a growing cohort of data suggesting that the Euro-Zone is struggling with stagnating economic growth.
British Airways cuts back Business-Only Flights
British Airways announced that the company will cut down its exclusive Business-Class-Only flights between London and New York.
The flights from London City Airport and JFK Airport will be halved from the 30th October due to low demand.
Business-Only operations have in the past always been challenging and BA admitted that it had doubts when launching the new line in 2009.
Odyssey Airline seems however more confident about the profitability of such exclusive flight services. The airline is planning to offer a Business-Exclusive service from London City Airport to a range of destinations, starting next year.
First US-Cuba flight in 55 years takes off
After some minor delays, the first flight service between the United States and Cuba since 1961 took of this morning at 10.05am.
The flight departure from Fort Lauderdale was accompanied by a prolonged party at the gate, which caused a 20-minute delay.
Many of the passengers on the plane heading to Santa Clara are previously exiled Cubans who haven’t been able to return to their home country in years.
The first commerical direct flight from the US to Cuba is the beginning of a process which will, in the future, see as many as 110 flights departing from US destinations to the Caribbean island daily.
Katharina Fleiner 01/09/2016
