Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park face "financially disastrous" results if they cannot reopen soon, their owner has warned.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which operates the parks, said it has already borrowed £5 million during the coronavirus pandemic. The charity has been spending around £700,000 a month on upkeep and food for the animals despite the parks being closed.
RZSS chief executive David Field said if the two zoos cannot reopen soon the charity may need to borrow more money as it is ineligible for Government support. He fears more borrowing would have "significant impacts" on the parks and their ability to carry out conservation work.
"We are talking to the Scottish Government and hope we can reopen within the next few weeks if Scotland moves into the next phase of lockdown and outdoor attractions can open again,” Mr Field said.
BA considers legal challenge to UK quarantine plans
The owner of British Airways is considering a legal challenge to quarantine plans that the UK Government has said are necessary to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
With planes around the world grounded since late March, many airlines are hoping to start flying again from July. But the 14-day quarantine due to come into effect on June 8 on UK arrivals from abroad will hamper recovery, bosses have warned.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA owner IAG, said the industry had not been consulted on the plans which will effectively torpedo any efforts to fly in July. He added that he expects other airlines will also consider their legal options.
“We think it is irrational, we think it is disproportionate and we are giving consideration to a legal challenge to this legislation,” he told Sky News on Friday.
Britain’s big airlines – BA, easyJet and Virgin Atlantic – have between them announced almost 20,000 job cuts to prepare for a smaller travel market after the pandemic.
Relations between BA and the Government have come under increasing strain as the crisis has progressed. A junior transport minister agreed with a lawmaker on Wednesday who said BA should “pay a price” for putting thousands of staff on notice of redundancy while accessing the Government’s furlough scheme.
Office space provider reports slump in profits
Office-space business Workspace has said it expects the market to remain subdued after workers were told to stay at home in the face of coronavirus.
The company said the virus has had a "dramatic impact" but predicted that it will help to catalyse a structural shift in the market towards "flexible" offices.
It came as the London-listed firm reported a 47% slump in profit to £72.5 million for the year to March 31. Revenue for the period increased by 8% to £151.4 million, while net incomes moved 10% higher.
Workspace said it supported customers with a 50% rent reduction and had offered deferral agreements to the majority. It added that it is readying its business centres for the increased return of customers, and has put in place extensive measures to enable social distancing and promote good hygiene.
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