Company news in brief

SA Express can take off again

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has reinstated South African Express’ Air Operator Certificate (AOC), clearing the airline for the resumption of operations.

This development comes just over a month after the regional airline had managed to get its Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) approval successfully reinstated by the SACAA.

With these two crucial certificates successfully reinstated, this means that SA Express can now conduct scheduled commercial operations as an airline. In addition to successfully reinstating its AOC and AMO certificates, SA Express has also managed to get Certificates of Airworthiness for two of its aircraft. Therefore, the airline is in the meantime permitted to operate with only two of its aircraft, according to a SACAA statement.

-Fin240

Google employees demand oversight of China engine

Google is not close to launching a search engine app in China, its chief executive said at a companywide meeting on Thursday, according to a transcript seen by Reuters, as employees of the Alphabet Inc unit called for more transparency and oversight of the project.

Chief executive Sundar Pichai told staff that though development is in an early stage, providing more services in the world’s most populous country fits with Google’s global mission.

Hoping to gain approval from the Chinese government to provide a mobile search service, the company plans to block some websites and search terms, Reuters reported this month, citing unnamed sources.

-Nampa/Reuters

OxyContin maker taps financial restructuring adviser

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP has tapped law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP for financial restructuring advice, as its potential liabilities swell with a wave of lawsuits over the opioid addiction epidemic sweeping the United States, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Purdue and other opioid manufacturers, including Endo International Plc and Johnson & Johnson, have been fighting hundreds of lawsuits filed by US states, counties and cities accusing the drugmakers of pushing addictive painkillers through deceptive marketing.

-Nampa/Reuters

Walmart posts biggest US sales rise

Walmart Inc posted its best quarterly US sales growth in a decade and upped full-year sales and profit outlooks on Thursday, sending shares surging as a jump in online and grocery purchases showed it can hold its own against Amazon.com Inc.

The world’s largest retailer is known for its sprawling stores, a factor that could have worked against it as shoppers migrate online. But Walmart is also the top US grocer, providing a lure for customers to visit stores, where they may also make other impulse buys.

Walmart has also overhauled its website and worked to use physical locations as distribution points for online orders of groceries and other goods, helping retain buyers who increasingly expect quick, cheap shipping.

-Nampa/Reuters

Amazon considering UK insurance comparison site

Amazon.com Inc is sounding out some of Europe’s top insurance firms to see if they would contribute products to a UK price comparison website in what would be a major foray by the US online retail giant into the region’s financial services.

Three industry executives told Reuters they had held talks with Amazon about the possible launch of a site. One said the talks were part of several discussions Amazon is having with insurers. A second said there were no imminent launch plans.

While it was not immediately clear what type of insurance would be sold on any Amazon site, home and motor policies are popular sellers on existing UK price comparison sites.

-Nampa/Reuters