Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

Bond’s a casualty

- BY MIRROR REPORTER

passengers inconvenie­nced by the disruption to their travel plans.”

BBC business editor Simon Jack said a source within the company had told him “the game is up”.

He added Flybe was not going to make a formal announceme­nt until its last plane had landed at around 11pm.

It comes following reports that the company was on the brink of administra­tion. Bookings have slumped in

the wake of the coronaviru­s crisis. Last ditch discussion­s with ministers and the airline’s shareholde­rs were yesterday said to be continuing, with bosses said to be pinning hopes on new Chancellor Rishi Sunak agreeing to reduce air passenger duty on domestic flights in next week’s Budget.

The threat to Flybe’s survival comes two months after the airline was allowed to delay a tax bill.

THE release of the latest Bond movie has been postponed by seven months over the worsening coronaviru­s crisis.

Daniel Craig’s No Time To Die was due out next month. The delay came as the number of UK infected hit 87.

No Time To Die’s producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said the movie was delayed “after careful considerat­ion and evaluation of the global theatrical marketplac­e” amid fears box office takings would plummet.

Bosses tweeted: “The film will be released in the UK on November 12.” It is hoped coronaviru­s will be under control by then. The British Bond premiere was scheduled to take place on March 31 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

It is the first major movie to have its release delayed due to the coronaviru­s outbreak.

Two 007 fan sites, MI6 Confidenti­al and The James Bond Dossier, had urged bosses to postpone its release. They said: “It is time to put public health above marketing.”

Cinemas in Italy and China – where Bond earns tens of millions in ticket sales – are closed over the outbreak.

The 25th film in the Bond franchise marks Craig’s fifth and final time as the spy.

 ??  ?? NOTICE Delay announceme­nt
NOTICE Delay announceme­nt

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