Business

Defence dominates the skies as drones take off at the Paris Air Show

“The Choice of Sovereignty”, “Protecting Democracy” and “Ready for the Unknown”. Not a promotional campaign for the US Navy Seals but rather the slogans that were emblazoned on chalets and billboards belonging respectively to Dassault Aviation, Helsing and Airbus at this week’s Paris Air Show. Though only about a third of the 2,400 brands exhibiting this year are from the defence sector, the atmosphere at the show is decidedly militaristic. The f...

John Smith in Business 2026-04-21 11:13

Inside Sweden’s electric flight school

BusinessSkelleftea, SwedenSeptember 14, 20225 MIN 19 SECInside Sweden’s electric flight schoolA new electric flight school in Sweden is inspiring a future of emission-free aviation. Monocle takes to the sky, tries out the first fully electric plane to be approved for use in Europe and hears how Skellefteå has become a hotbed of green start-ups. Read more in the June issue of the magazine.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

John Miller in Business 2026-04-20 18:12

Inside Le Commandant Charcot, the world’s first luxury icebreaker cruise experience

Sailing through frozen seas and breaking through thick layers of ice is no easy feat: it demands not only an experienced captain but also a dedicated team. This is something that the crew ofLe Commandant Charcot,the world’s first luxury ice-breaking cruise ship, knows and understands well. Commissioned by French cruise company Ponant and unveiled in 2020,Le Commandant Charcotcan sail 270 passengers to faraway locations, such as Greenland or the N...

Robert Smith in Business 2026-04-18 18:46

Inside Portugal’s tinned-fish industry

BusinessPorto, PortugalMay 18, 20233 MIN 58 SECInside Portugal’s tinned-fish industryTinned sardines are an icon of Portugal. We visit a family-run shop and one of the country’s last artisanal canneries to discover why sardines are cherished by the Portuguese, how the industry started back with Napoleon and what is driving the revival of canned fish. Discover more from the country with Portugal: The Monocle Handbook.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Emily Davis in Business 2026-04-17 18:54

The great American road trip is back – but this time it’s on rails

The US secretary of transportation, Sean Duffy, is hitting the road – and he wants you to ride shotgun. The cabinet official recently struck out from the capital in the direction of his native Wisconsin to promote the Great American Road Trip. It’s an initiative that seeks to honour the country’s 250th birthday, which takes place next year, and helpfully coincides with falling petrol prices that the administration credits to president Donald Trum...

John Brown in Business 2026-04-16 18:00

THE MONOCLE BRIEFINGS: Craftsmanship

BusinessJanuary 24, 2012THE MONOCLE BRIEFINGS: CraftsmanshipSome cities come to mind straight away when you think of craft and design, but it’s also true that untapped markets offer opportunities for entrepreneurship. We talk to designers and artisans in Shanghai, Bradford, Winter Park in Florida and Nový Bor in the Czech Republic, who are reclaiming neglected traditions, adding a contemporary twist and attracting a new, global market.SubscribeEm...

Michael Johnson in Business 2026-04-12 11:39

Brasimba beer

BusinessKatangaNovember 23, 2009Brasimba beerFor the past eight decades, the Brasimba brewery has provided a rare slice of normality to the people of the DR Congo, a country that has endured a long history of conflict and unrest. Monocle’s Steve Bloomfield visits the Lubumbashi-based company, whose flagship product, Simba beer, is drunk throughout central Africa.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Sarah Miller in Business 2026-04-12 11:55

Inside the airship industry

BusinessFriedrichshafen, GermanyNovember 1, 20215 MIN 40 SECInside the airship industryAirships, once tipped to be the future of flight, are now largely used as costly billboards that drift across cities or over major sporting events. We travelled to Friedrichshafen in Germany to take a peek inside one of the world’s few commercial operations and explore this niche area of aviation. Read more on the story in the November issue of Monocle magazine...

Jane Jones in Business 2026-04-08 18:46

My life as a vending machine

BusinessBangkok, ThailandApril 11, 20242 MIN 32 SECMy life as a vending machineCurrently serving 250,000 drinks a day, Tao Bin has become a staple in Thai malls, hospitals and offices since the brand launched in 2021. The machines boast freshly ground coffee, fizzy lemonades, protein shakes and more. Monocle Films travelled to Bangkok to see them in action.Editor Helena KardováNarrator Tom EdwardsSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Michael Williams in Business 2026-04-08 18:10

Gaja: the next generation of winemakers

BusinessItalyMay 14, 20205 MIN 23 SECGaja: the next generation of winemakersFive generations after Giovanni Gaja founded his eponymous winery in the Piedmont town of Barbaresco, the family continues to produce some of Italy’s best vintages. Their uncompromising commitment to quality is helping to maintain one of the world’s finest vintners.Narrator Daniel PintoSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Robert Davis in Business 2026-04-07 11:49

Helsinki market-hall revival

BusinessNovember 9, 20235 MIN 37 SECHelsinki market-hall revivalTo celebrate our inaugural Retail Awards, we head to a newly renovated food hall in Helsinki. From cheese and smoked fish to fresh pastries and locally grown vegetables, the Hakaniemi Market Hall is the perfect place to stock up on supplies – and to linger in cosy restaurants. Join us as we tour its splendid aisles.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Emily Johnson in Business 2026-04-06 11:59

Solid foundations: Three firms redefining the future of development

1.The intrepid CEOMeean DyManila, PhilippinesPark Villas in Metro Manila is on course to become one of the Philippines’ most prestigious addresses. The 51-storey tower is being built in Makati, the capital’s salubrious central business district, by developer Ayala Land. With only one unit occupying each floor, the property’s luxury flats (or “villas”) are selling for more than €8.2m each.“This country has never seen an offering like this,” says M...

Jennifer Jones in Business 2026-04-05 18:32

Monocle speaks to five of the travel industry’s brightest minds

Carsten SpohrCEO, Lufthansa,MunichAirlines might have taken a battering in the coronavirus pandemic but there’s little doubt that they have bounced back since. With consumer appetite for travel showing little sign of being sated, the recent rebound has proved a boon for the Lufthansa Group. The firm recorded its most profitable summer ever in 2023 and registered operating profits of €1.5bn in the third quarter, during which it carried 38 million ...

Emily Smith in Business 2026-03-31 18:38

Full speed ahead

AffairsJune 17, 2009Full speed aheadLater this year, Barack Obama’s transportation secretary Ray LaHood will begin allocating $8 billion to emerging American train systems, with another $5 billion to come over the next five years – the first time ever that the US government has made such an investment. Until this year, the idea that Americans could enjoy European or Japanese-style train service was dismissed as a boutique cause of cosmopolitan co...

Robert Davis in Business 2026-03-30 11:21

Icebreakers: life on board

AffairsBay of BothniaMarch 7, 20198 MIN 51 SECIcebreakers: life on boardMany seamen see icebreaking as a career pinnacle. We peek into the snug cabins, well-kitted kitchen and memorabilia-filled gym to see what serving on icebreaker ‘Kontio’ is really like. You can also catch up with episode one here.Narrator Andrew MuellerSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

David Davis in Business 2026-03-29 11:41

Transforming Ho Chi Minh City: Infrastructure, investment, and emerging opportunities

It’s morning in Ho Chi Minh City and motorcycles swarm the roads as office workers fill the pavements, drinking hot coffee in the sweltering heat. Amid the everyday mayhem, the first sign that something new is afoot appears in fetching cyan blue. In early 2023 a fleet of electric cabs owned by Vinfast arrived in the country’s commercial centre. For the owner of the Vietnamese automaker, starting a taxi company was a shortcut to getting these vehi...

Jennifer Brown in Business 2026-03-26 11:41

Coffee and avocados? As heat rises, Sicily turns to tropical produce

BusinessSicilyJanuary 26, 20235 MIN 42 SECCoffee and avocados? As heat rises, Sicily turns to tropical produceClimate change is prompting fruit farmers to diversify and coffee roasters to start considering areas beyond the so-called bean belt to source their raw material. In Sicily, Morettino, a forward-looking family-run roastery, has already started growing coffee plants in Palermo, creating an espresso that is truly made in Italy. To discover ...

David Jones in Business 2026-03-26 11:33

Blatt Chaya

BusinessLebanonAugust 17, 2010Blatt ChayaLebanese retiree Edgard Chaya got into the tile-making trade by chance, after stumbling upon a suitcase belonging to a great uncle. Inside, Chaya discovered a set of curious metal shapes and moulds – castings to make traditional cement floor tiles. Monocle spent time in Beirut to watch how this small family firm has brought the art of ciment coloré back into fashion.Editor Aleksander SolumSubscribeEmailiTu...

Jennifer Williams in Business 2026-03-25 11:31

Can an obscure UN agency control the coming scramble for resources on the deepest seabed?

In his sea-facing reception room in downtown Kingston, Jamaica, Michael Lodge is running out of space. As secretary-general of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), Lodge receives diplomatic gifts from all over the world: a commemorative plaque from Mauritius, tapestries from China, Tongan woodcuts. There are so many trinkets that they’ve now filled the shelves and are lining the corridors.It’s not surprising. The organisation Lodge heads up ...

Michael Johnson in Business 2026-03-25 11:59

The Monocle Book of Entrepreneurs

BusinessOctober 6, 20211 MIN 31 SECThe Monocle Book of EntrepreneursOur new book includes canny case studies of 100 businesses that succeeded, ideas on where to base your business and advice from more than 50 industry experts on everything from finding funding to scaling up. Order your copy at The Monocle Shop.Narrator Molly PriceSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Emily Jones in Business 2026-03-24 18:20

The bold business owner: Takeshi Yamanaka

DesignHiroshima, JapanMarch 13, 20204 MIN 49 SECThe bold business owner: Takeshi YamanakaIn 1928 Maruni Wood Industry was born out of a fascination with the masterful carpentry in ancient shrines. Today its furniture is found in the Californian headquarters of Apple as well as airport lounges, galleries and restaurants around the world. We meet the company’s president to talk about the challenges of managing a family-run business.Narrator Joleen ...

John Brown in Business 2026-03-21 11:07

Urban growth: Solitair tree nursery

BusinessLoenhout, BelgiumJune 26, 20155 MIN 34 SECUrban growth: Solitair tree nurseryCities are often seen as the flipside of nature: synthetic, sleek and sometimes impersonal. For places that pine after being greener, the Solitair tree nursery provides a blueprint. Monocle travelled to the nursery in Belgium to discover the value of investing in the future.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Emily Williams in Business 2026-03-20 18:18

The agenda opener: Updates from our correspondents and a Q&A with Hoor al Qasimi

In it togetherTyler Brûlé on why today’s working practices don’t work.How and when did you become the leader you are today? My most valuable lessons came from teachers, managers, clients and colleagues. I feel that I have done a reasonable job as a business owner and hope that there’s some degree of transmission. Among my senior colleagues, there’s a common understanding about how we report, present, pitch and sell. Time together has helped but o...

Sarah Davis in Business 2026-03-19 11:07

Yerevan’s open doors

BusinessYerevan, ArmeniaApril 30, 20202 MIN 50 SECYerevan’s open doorsWe shine a spotlight on entrepreneurship in Armenia. Yerevan’s boulevards are lined with magnificent Soviet architecture but venture beyond the imperious façades and you’ll find a busy start-up scene and well-funded art centres. Armenia shows how a small nation can benefit from building strong ties to its powerful diaspora.Editor Helena KardováNarrator Robert BoundSubscribeEmai...

David Johnson in Business 2026-03-16 18:36

The business agenda: A course correction for Berlin Brandenburg Airport and rethinking men’s skincare

Aviation: GermanyBetter late than neverFor years, the safest conversation starter in Germany’s capital has been to commiserate about Berlin Brandenburg Airport. There’s plenty to talk about: you can kick off by mentioning the hour-long security queues, ease into lamenting the shoddy public-transport connections and the illogical signage, and then spend the rest of the time marvelling at the epic quagmire that led the airport to start operating 9 ...

Sarah Brown in Business 2026-03-15 18:12

By focusing on human interaction, Apple proves that there’s more to get excited about than AI

It’s a tumultuous time for the US – and Apple is caught in the eye of the storm. Donald Trump wants Apple to build its iPhones in America, which could lead to their price increasing to more than $3,000 (€2,612). According to CEO Tim Cook, US-imposed tariffs could cost the company $900m (€783m) in the next quarter alone. Meanwhile, the EU is forcing Apple to open up parts of the iPhone to third parties, while there are also legal pressures on its ...

Emily Miller in Business 2026-03-13 11:47

How Greeland aims to unlock new economic opportunities with a smart airport expansion

Descending over the Greenland ice sheet, en route to Kangerlussuaq, the Air Greenland captain points out Navigator’s Rock straight ahead. It was a landmark used by Second World War pilots based here to confirm that they were on the  correct course. As the ice sheet comes to an end, we fly low and close to the mountains before making a series of right turns over the Sondrestrom Fjord as we prepare to land. There are a handful of building...

Michael Davis in Business 2026-03-13 18:04

Brand Lexus

BusinessJapanOctober 3, 2007Brand LexusRewind to 1980 and the idea of a Japanese luxury car brand would have been unthinkable. Today, Toyota’s Lexus division has become a dominant force in the US luxury market and wants to do the same in Europe. Monocle’s Editor-in-chief reckons they need to start exploiting their Japanese roots to make this happen.Editor Aleksander SolumSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Robert Williams in Business 2026-03-12 18:42

Get behind the wheel and fall in love with driving again : The all-new Toyota Land Cruiser 250

It’s rare that the launch of a new vehicle excites enthusiasm beyond the auto industry but when Toyota unveiled its new Land Cruiser 250 last summer, the word on the street was that the Japanese car giant had a classic on its hands. Its boxy lines, stripped-back aesthetic and absence of chrome announced a fresh direction for Toyota’s longest-running vehicle. The chief designer is Yoshito Watanabe, an amiable figure for whom the Land Cruiser holds...

Emily Williams in Business 2026-03-11 11:25

Inside Tokyo’s colourful community bus

DesignTokyo, JapanJuly 28, 20225 MINInside Tokyo’s colourful community busAn electric bus service has injected a new playfulness into a borough of Tokyo in need of a revamp. We hop aboard and meet Eiji Mitooka, its creator and Japan’s foremost train designer, who explains why he puts fun at the top of his list when designing public transport. All aboard! Read more in the June issue of the magazine.SubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

David Davis in Business 2026-03-09 11:15

Sailing into the future: How wind power is revolutionising cargo shipping

If it takes a long time to turn a cargo ship around, try getting the entire shipping industry to change course – to a cleaner future. Having spent 200 years burning the dirtiest combustibles, some ship owners are discovering that the most promising technology for their industry is one abandoned years ago: the abundant, free fuel called wind. That’s why cargo decks are sprouting all manner of breeze catchers, each an ungainly prototype, competing ...

Emily Smith in Business 2026-03-09 18:30

Mater: designed to last

BusinessCopenhagen, DenmarkMarch 31, 20203 MIN 40 SECMater: designed to lastLong before environmentalism became a popular concern, Henrik Marstrand created Mater, a Danish furniture company that prides itself on timeless pieces with sustainability at the core. Marstrand’s entrepreneurial spirit and faith in the circular economy is changing perceptions of good design.Narrator Saul TaylorSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

John Smith in Business 2026-03-08 18:02

Grey skies ahead: How the shadow market for drones is rewriting the future of warfare

Last week’s astonishing remote-controlled attack by Ukraine on five Russian airfields – some of them thousands of kilometres from the frontlines – might have changed warfare forever. Militaries all over the world, once they have finished marvelling at the ingenuity, diligence and bravado required to launch blizzards of drones from trucks driven to their targets by unwitting citizens of the nation with whom you are at war, will fret furiously abou...

Robert Miller in Business 2026-03-06 18:26

Eataly

BusinessTurinOctober 19, 2007Eataly“Buy, taste and learn about the best foods all under the same roof.” That’s the slogan of Oscar Farinetti’s super-market Eataly, which opened earlier this year in Turin. Housed in a former vermouth factory, Eataly offers the finest artisanal produce from Italian suppliers, all selected with the assistance of Slow Food Italia and accompanied by lovingly compiled details of its provenance and production. You can e...

David Johnson in Business 2026-03-01 18:08

Our annual overview of present and future pioneers in commerce, infrastructure and civil society

ÖBB night trainsGood morning, ViennaAustriaHow does dinner overlooking Hamburg’s harbour, followed by a good night’s sleep and then waking up in the majestic Austrian Alps sound? Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is betting on the affirmative from climate-conscious travellers taking advantage of the night-train revival to comfortably get around Europe without having to fly. Already a night-train pioneer, ÖBB aims to double its overnight passengers ...

John Smith in Business 2026-02-28 11:33

Ways of seeing: Smart thoughts on Saudi start-ups, the US-China trade war and the contradictions and the case for AI optimism

Scott Youngon…How geopolitics will shape the manner in which AI will change the job market. Amid the uncertainty, there are things that we know and even some reasons to be cautiously optimistic.Technological prognostications often fall prey to what’s called “Amara’s Law”, a phenomenon suggesting that we tend to overestimate a technology’s near-term impact while grossly underestimating its effect over the long run. Artificial intelligence (AI) is ...

Jennifer Brown in Business 2026-02-28 18:20

Icebreakers: rescue know-how

AffairsBay of BothniaFebruary 28, 201910 MIN 26 SECIcebreakers: rescue know-howFinland has obvious natural advantages that have helped it become an icebreaking powerhouse but the country’s dominance in the field is startling. We travel to the Bay of Bothnia to bear witness to the beginning of the icebreaking season. You can also watch episode two here.Narrator Andrew MuellerSubscribeEmailiTunesYouTube

Jennifer Miller in Business 2026-02-27 11:57

Meet the Dubai Airports CEO who isn’t waiting on the world to change

Airports have long suffered from an identity crisis. Are they public infrastructure or luxury malls with departure boards? Should we think of them as civic gateways or as necessary evils to endure while en route to somewhere better? For most travellers, it’s a place associated with queues, poor signage and hours lost to bureaucracy. But Paul Griffiths, the long-serving CEO of Dubai Airports, has a fresh idea – and when he starts to share it, he l...

Sarah Davis in Business 2026-02-26 11:39

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