A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Aer Lingus spends 150m on aircraft
Aer Lingus is buying four aircraft worth more than €150 million to boost its short-haul fleet.
The airline said yesterday that it has agreed with Airbus to buy four A300-200 aircraft between 2010 and early 2011.
It will use them to serve routes between Ireland and Europe, and the deal is part of an overall plan to grow its short-haul fleet.
On the basis of their list price, the new additions to the fleet are worth $226.8 million (€150.25 million), or $56.7 million each.
However, Aer Lingus said yesterday it has won "certain price concessions" from the manufacturer.
$8.9m revenue for Trintech
Irish software company Trintech has reported revenues of $8.9 million (€5.89) for its fourth quarter to the end of January last and a net loss of $706,000.
Annual revenues at the company were $32.9 million compared with $25.8 million in the previous year.
The net loss for the year was $327,000.
Dutch upset Ryanair
Ryanair has complained to the European Commission against the Dutch government's exemption of transfer passengers at Schiphol airport from its eco-tax on air travel, citing state aid rules.
Ryanair said the eco-tax was a "scam" designed to fill a €350 million hole in the Dutch government's public finances and said the exemption amounted to a €400 million subsidy to Schiphol airport and airlines KLM and Air France.
Royal & Sun profits up
Operating profit at British insurance group Royal & Sun Alliance rose 11 per cent in the second half of 2007, with its international division, which includes its business in the Republic, delivering "above-market growth".
Adwalker stake
State agency, Enterprise Ireland, has taken a stake in digital sandwich board developer, Adwalker, in a deal valuing the listed company at just more than €5 million.
Enterprise Ireland has paid €250,000 for a 4.7 per cent stake in Adwalker. The company intends using the cash for research and development. The deal places an overall value of €5.3 million on Adwalker, which is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market.
Training for print sector
A Skillnet training programme for the Republic's print and packaging industry will help the industry withstand pressure from intensifying international competition, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning Seán Haughey said yesterday.
A fund of €489,000 for the industry has been approved by Skillnet, the training and development body funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
William Hill's profits fall
London-quoted bookmaker William Hill, which has 49 outlets in Ireland, said yesterday that profits for 2007 were down 2 per cent on the previous year at £286.7 million (€375.5 million).
The company blamed an increase in amusement machine licence duty paid in Britain.
