Dubai / Emirates Business Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest national flag-carrier, signed a Purchase Agreement with Airbus SAS for the order of 15 A320Neo (New Engine Option) family aircraft. The transaction is valued at $2 billion. The 15-aircraft order includes up to 10 A321XLR (Xtra Long Range) jets, the world’s longest-range single-aisle aircraft. The increased capacity of the A320neo will …

Bloomberg Cabin crew at Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Germanwings unit began a three-day strike on Monday that will affect around 180 mostly domestic Eurowings flights out of about 1,200 scheduled during the New Year period. The latest industrial action affecting Lufthansa underscores fragile relations between Europe’s biggest airline group and labour representatives as the company fights a continent-wide capacity war with …

Amman / Emirates Business Emirates customers travelling in First and Business class, and Emirates Skywards Platinum and Gold members can now enjoy a smoother departure and arrival experience at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) with complimentary Tikram fast-track services. The Tikram services will facilitate smoother journeys for the almost 300 premium passengers that travel on Emirates First and Business Class …

Dubai / Emirates Business Ted Baker announces the reopening of his prestigious Dubai Mall store. After relocating just around the corner, Ted’s flagship location has undergone a tailor-made makeover. In the heart of Downtown Dubai, known for threading together internationally recognised fashion and fine dining, this is his most grandiose setting of all for the newly improved Ted Baker store. …

Bloomberg EssilorLuxottica, the newly merged Italian-French eyewear conglomerate, said it was the target of a 190 million euro ($213 million) fraud at a factory in Thailand as a power struggle roils its headquarters. The world’s leading lens maker is working to recover the lost funds, and employees associated with the incident, which occurred at an Essilor plant, have been fired, …

Bloomberg The chief financial officer of Domino’s Pizza Group Plc died in a snorkeling accident, leaving a growing management void at the franchise holder for the fast-food brand in the UK and Ireland. David Bauernfeind, 51, died while on vacation with his family in Mauritius, according to a spokesman. The company’s chairman and chief executive officer had previously announced plans …

Bloomberg Emerging markets are headed into 2020 on a high note even if the US-China trade talks remain a nagging risk for investors. With the new decade looming, the average yield on developing-nation local-currency bonds is close to an all-time low of 4.12%, while stocks and currencies are at their highest levels since June 2018, underscoring how expectations Washington and …

Bloomberg Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd, one of Canada’s largest gaming companies, has agreed to a deal that will create a new firm valued at about $1.1 billion. Gateway said that Leisure Acquisition Corp, a special purpose company created to make acquisitions, will merge into a new unit of GTWY Holdings, Gateway’s parent. GTWY shares are expected to be listed …

Bloomberg China’s economic performance improved in December for the first time in eight months, according to a group of earliest-available indicators compiled by Bloomberg. Production in the world’s second-largest economy accelerated as domestic demand stabilised, and market sentiment turned around on the prospect of a near-term trade deal with the US. The reading is the latest sign that Chinese economy …

Bloomberg Fast Retailing Co Chief Executive Officer Tadashi Yanai is leaving SoftBank Group Corp’s board after more than 18 years as one of the few directors with the heft to challenge Masayoshi Son. Yanai, Japan’s richest man, will step down on December 31, according to a SoftBank statement. He is leaving the post to focus on running his own business, …