The chief executive of the parent company of Aer Lingus has said he does not see any circumstance in which a hard Brexit would lead to flights being grounded. Speaking in Dublin last night, IAG chief executive Willie Walsh said he does not think anyone can predict what is going to happen with Brexit, but the group he leads is relaxed about the situation. | China's economy grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades in 2018, losing more steam in the last quarter as it battles a massive debt pile and a US trade war. The 6.6% growth comes in above the official target of around 6.5% and matches a forecast by analysts polled by AFP. But it is down from the 6.8% chalked up in 2017, according to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). | Dalata Hotel Group has agreed a deal to lease a new hotel in the Dublin Docklands area. The new hotel will form part of the Spencer Place project, which will extend to over 1 million square feet and is being developed by a joint venture of Ronan Group Real Estate and Colony Capital. Construction of the new hotel has started with a target opening of the last quarter in 2020. | Aircraft leasing company SMBC Aviation Capital has finalised a firm order for 65 Airbus planes from the A320neo family with a catalogue price of $7.47 billion, Airbus said today. The order for 50 A320neo and 15 A321neo single-aisle aircraft is worth the equivalent of €6.6 billion. It brings to 71 the total number of planes from that category ordered by Dublin-based SMBC last year, a statement from the European aerospace giant said. | Bookmaker William Hill said today it would remodel its retail business in 2019, after it warned full-year 2018 adjusted operating profit was expected to be about 15% lower than a year ago. The company had cut its profit forecast in November due to tightening regulations in the UK, particularly on lucrative fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), and warned of more losses in the US. | BMW said its group sales went up 1.1% on a worldwide basis in 2018 to 2,490,664 vehicles. The company added that it expected a slight increase this year despite challenging market conditions. BMW brand sales increased by 1.8% worldwide in 2018 to 2,125,026 vehicles, the company said, with December sales rising 1.3%. The group's December sales fell 0.7% compared with the previous year, affected by a 11.3% drop in the Mini brand sales.   |||