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Quest Means Business
White House Take Credit for Solid Jobs Report; Juncker Pokes Fun at English Influence; Last Hours of Campaigning for Macron, Le Pen; Delta Apologizes for Kicking Family Off Flight; Major Milestone for China's First Large Jetliner; Race for the UNWTO Heats Up; Inside the U.S. Solar Booms
Aired May 05, 2017 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[16:00:00] RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR: There's the bell ringing on Wall Street. Dow Jones Industrials flirting at 21,000. Cinco de Mayo is today.
And hit the gavel. A solid gavel, bringing trading to a close on Friday, Cinco de Mayo.
And before we go further, tonight, U.S. jobless rate takes a fall. The White House takes the credit. Jean-Claude Juncker gives the English
language a tongue lashing. And now it's Delta's turn to say sorry after a new seating scandal goes viral. A quick look at the Dow Jones Industrials,
did it make -- if we can show you the Dow. Yes, it did, there we go. Through 21,000 as trading is over for the week. I'm Richard Quest in
London tonight, where I mean business.
Good evening. You're seeing the reaction on the good jobless numbers on the market. That number we'll show you in much more detail in a moment.
The U.S. economy has a spring in its step. The White House is hailing the robust jobs report as proof that Donald Trump can win on more than just
health care. In his weekly address posted on Twitter, the president says his team have been hard at work to bring down the barriers to job creation.
Now, earlier today, the Labor Secretary, Alexander Acosta, tweeted that the hiring rebound was, "Great news." And at the White House press briefing,
the deputy press secretary said Mr. Trump does deserve some credit for the improvement in the labor market.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY: We had meetings with countless CEOs, small business owners. People that are
involved in job creation come in and tell us that they are much more confident in going out and hiring people, building their businesses and
growing the economy because they have a president who actually cares about it and is focused on it, like this one is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: So, the numbers to which we are talking and referring, unemployment is at 4.4 percent. It's the lowest level in a decade. That's perhaps an
interesting number in its own right. It was the number of jobs that were created, 211,000. Which was considerably more than the 190,000 CNNMoney
consensus. Wage growth was less dramatic, 2.5 percent gain in April. What this means is that according to economists, the U.S. is now at or near full
employment. So, 4.4 percent, there isn't much room for further drop, certainly not without the noninflationary rate of unemployment, the NIRU,
starting to lift up again. Diane Swonk joins me from Chicago, from DS Economics. Diane, look, we come to wage growth in a moment. But the
headline numbers, the two numbers, 211,000 jobs created and unemployment down to 4.4 percent. Without inviting you to make a political point, how
much can Donald Trump take the credit for these numbers?
DIANE SWONK, FOUNDER, DS ECONOMICS: Really this is a continuation of momentum that we saw in the second half of last year. We saw economic
momentum pick up. And then it spilled into this year. Underlying fundamentals were good. We also had that quirky March number where we had
less than 80,000 in the month of March. And so, this is a nice rebound for the month of March, that was because of weather-related problems. It
snowed during the week and 7,000 flights were cancelled during the week they did the survey. It was a very disruptive March. And so, we saw
numbers come back. Particularly in places that you would expect, like leisure and hospitality. In fact, were seeing a lot of people changing how
they spent things. And so, they were going on vacations instead of buying cars during the month.
QUEST: Even if Trumponomics or Trump's economic policies aren't taking effect yet, because they haven't even been introduced. We certainly
probably can say that the buoyant confident mood that following the election of the 45th president, has had an effect on the economy and we're
starting to see that flow through.
SWONK: We're not seeing it in the GDP numbers. What I would argue is, you have to look at actual policy changes. The actual policy changes we've
seen is easing regulations in the shale industry. And that is where we're seeing some come back. That is showing up. It's accelerated a comeback
that was already in place. And so, they do get credit for that. On the downside, we've seen a real slowdown in health care hiring.
[16:05:00] It's still a strong sector. But because of the uncertainty, we've talked to health care employers, they've actually slowed down hiring
since the start of the year, not knowing how many and who will be covered. We've got an underlying good job picture. We lost 55,000 retail jobs
during the previous two months, was pretty much flat this month, that's restructuring in retail. All in all, it's a better picture than we've had,
it's one we've been moving towards slowly. The U-6, which is that stress measure, at 8.6 percent, still over a half a percent higher than it was
before the recession.
QUEST: All right, let's take Donald Trump out of the equation in terms of the politics of it, or at least these numbers, and let's just talk about
the U.S. economy, as if it was a standalone in its own right. I think we can agree that with the exception of that weak GDP number in Q1, which is
still partially unexplained or at least less understood --
SWONK: Kind of a fluke actually.
QUEST: -- yes, the U.S. economy is in robust good shape.
SWONK: Robust, it's solid. I think we'll be growing around 2 percent this year, that's better than last year and above our potential. Our potential
has come down. So yes, we're in good shape and we'll continue to whittle down the unemployment rate. The little dip down in wage growth that we
saw, I don't take that as something to be too worried about. Because the composition of job gains was not as favorable for wage growth. We didn't
get manufacturing and construction jobs. And in fact, in the auto sector, are actually laying people off right now because of a slowdown in auto
sales. We didn't get quite the good wage numbers, but those will come back. This is an economy that is slowly moving in the right direction,
finally with a little bit of traction to it.
QUEST: Diane Swonk, good to see you, as always. Diplomatically and delicately treading your way through the minefield of politics and
economics. Good to see you as always.
SWONK: Good to see you too.
QUEST: The market is fluctuated today, struggling for most of the session before staging a late recovery. Look at the Dow. There was a late
recovery. Look at the graph and you'll see what I mean, down most of the session, then it suddenly goes up with a whoosh towards the end to 21,006.
The NASDAQ and the S&P both at record highs. Guru La Monica is with us in New York. Sir, IBM weighed on the market for much of the session. Warren
Buffett says he doesn't like it, or he's selling a third of his stock. Do we know why?
PAUL R. LA MONICA, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: He seemed to suggest in his interview with CNBC that simply put this is a company that has a lot more
competition right now and it is tougher for IBM to be as strong of a competitor in the tech landscape. Make no mistake, even though he's
selling a third, which is a significant stake, it is still one of Berkshire Hathaway's top holdings. He's not completely giving up hope in IBM just
yet. It's telling that Apple has become a very sizable chunk of the Berkshire portfolio as well. So, it might be a classic case of out with
the old, in with the new.
QUEST: And this Dow at 21,000, S&P and NASDAQ at record highs, look, we've talked about it all week, I'm going to harp on about it again. When the
market has a rally week, we've been in this range. It never seems to want to go down much and it's always pushing a small gain. That tells me, that
speaks to me volumes about where the pressure is. And it seems to be upwards.
LA MONICA: Yes, I think that is really the case right now. The market is grinding higher. We're not seeing all that much in the way of volatility
just yet. So, it seems as if the path of least resistance is still up. Will something change if president Trump is not able to get tax reform
through Congress? I think that is still even more than health care what everyone is waiting on.
QUEST: Paul La Monica, who is in New York for that. Care to predict next week?
LA MONICA: It's going to be a very interesting week. A lot of retail earnings. We've heard a lot about Amazon hurting this sector really badly.
We'll see if any of these companies have good results, hopefully not more store closings and layoffs.
QUEST: Paul, good to see you, see you next week.
LA MONICA: Thank you.
QUEST: Here in Europe, French stocks continue to rally on the last day of trading before the election on Sunday. The CAC 40 was up a little over 1
percent. The positive sentiment was also felt in London, Frankfurt, and in Zurich. So, the French election --the presidential election is coming to a
close. In fact, campaigning ends in just two hours from now. There is a day of reflection on Saturday. And voting takes place on Sunday.
The candidates of the far right, Marine Le Pen, and the centrist Emmanuel Macron, they have less than two hours before it all finishes. The final
vote is on Sunday. Macron spent his last day of campaigning in a small town of Rodez in Southern France.
[16:10:00] The young pro-EU candidate is currently leading in the polls. Predictions are that he'll within 63 percent of the vote. I was just
listening to the editor-in-chief, talking to Hala Gorani in the last hour. Le Pen spent the day in northern France, where several dozen people
gathered outside a cathedral protesting her visit. It has undoubtedly been one of the most bitter election campaigns in modern French history. And
the outcome, the impact not only for France but for Europe as a whole. Jim Bittermann joins me from Paris. Jim, it's just about over except for the
shouting and the counting of the results. It's not for me to say who will win. But as we heard in the last hour, if we look at those last polls, to
the degree published, they do suggest Macron's got it.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think that's what we have to go with, Richard. The fact is that we saw a very smart
researcher write an article today, this morning, saying there is still a way that Marine Le Pen could make it. It depends on absenteeism at the
polls, whether people actually show up on Sunday. But even at that, it's hard to see how that 20-point lead that Macron's got could disappear that
quickly.
Also, it should be said that Marine Le Pen had a pretty disastrous end to the week. It started with her debate performance on Wednesday, which was
roundly criticized both by her supporters and by her opponents. Then Thursday she got pelted with eggs at one of the campaign stops. Today she
got booed out of the cathedral of France. So basically, it's been a -- not a great finish for her. And Macron, he had some confrontations along the
way but managed to hold his own. I think going into Sunday, it's a matchup that has to be skewed towards Macron, I think, Richard.
QUEST: All right. When you take that fact, skewed to Macron, with a disaffected, disgruntled Le Pen, and the other extreme candidates, where do
they go after this?
BITTERMANN: In a way, Richard, both these candidates have won already. Marine Le Pen has gotten a higher score than any National Front candidate
ever. And she's led the party out of the wilderness to some extent. And has managed to put up enough support that when it comes around to the
legislative election, she could very well win some seats. Her party could win some seats in the legislature, enough to become a factor. Macron has
proved that against all political odds. Proved what he set out to do, which was to show that a young person without a party and just great ideas
and a lot of optimism could defeat the political dinosaurs. And they have been of course, wiped away the big losers of the traditional parties here,
which have been just wiped away, Richard.
QUEST: Jim Bittermann in Paris. You're not going to get much sleep over the next 48 hours, but you can't beat a good presidential election.
We need to take the pulse of any nation, to do that you need to hit the road. This fine vehicle over here, Freddie Brexit. We will be back on
board Freddie Brexit for the U.K. elections next month. In France, well, they haven't had Freddie Brexit. They've had Renee Renault. Jim and
Melissa Bell have been traveling in their own version, Renee the Renault 4. Melissa Bell took a tour with supporters of Marine Le Pen who thinks she
can be France's first female president. All aboard.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Renee the Renault is nearing the end of her road, with France preparing to go to the polls.
We've taken one last drive to seek out the far-right electorate. We found Marine Le Pen supporters who are worried about national identity. Up in
her northern strongholds, the voters were more worried about industrial decline and poverty. But want of her support in France's cities.
ALAIN AVELLO, PRESIDENT, COLLECTIF RACINE (through translator): In big towns that have been gentrified, Marine Le Pen doesn't do very well. But
in poorer areas, rural regions that's where Marine Le Pen gets her biggest support.
BELL: In the suburbs of Paris, Alain, Daniel, and Mikael have all agreed to jump in and tell us why they support Marine Le Pen, in her battle
against the independent centrist, Emmanuel Macron.
DANIEL AUGUSTE, PRESIDENT, COLLECTIF MARIANNE (through translator): Macron's France is the France of those who are included, those who have
won. Marine Le Pen's is the France of the excluded, of the forgotten, those who haven't benefitted from the advantages of globalization.
MIKAEL SALA, PRESIDENT, COLLECTIF CROISSANCE BLEU MARINE: If you can afford living in Paris, it means that you've gained from globalization.
You are a part of the happy few.
[16:15:00] BELL: What kind of change would a Le Pen victory bring to France.
AUGUSTE: An educational revolution because we will rebuild our schools around the fundamentals. A republican revolution as we restore secularism,
and our principles and values. A revolution everywhere.
BELL: But what are her chances of winning, given Macron's substantial lead in the polls?
SALA: Human nature is such that it will on many occasions favor stability over change. But the situation we're in right now is not sustainable.
Either we go on this way with Macron and then we die, because this is what's going to happen, we're going to die as a country, or we face the
hardships.
AVELLO: The French people are a mature people, a free people so I believe there'll be a last-minute democratic surge Sunday.
AUGUSTE: I'm expecting a victory. A victory of an idea of France. Even if we lose on Sunday, we will have won anyway, because our ideas have been
heard in this debate, our values have been heard in this debate, our point of view has been heard in this debate, and most importantly we campaigned
around our beliefs.
BELL (on camera): They're an idea of just how Marine Le Pen supporters are feeling here in Pontoise, on the outskirts of Paris just ahead of the big
day. And as you've seen, they really believe that she can still do it. For them, she represents the change that France needs. What they say is
even if the polls are right and Emmanuel Macron does win on Sunday, then Marine Le Pen will simply be a revolution waiting to happen the next time
France goes to the polls. Melissa Bell, CNN, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: I hope there was a public warning that Melissa Bell was driving on the roads. My word. Renee Renault. I'll drive home next time.
Jean-Claude Juncker says the English language is losing importance because of Brexit. He said that in English. So, he might be better understood.
Now, is this weird, that the Luxembourger decides to speak in English to rubbish the British? In a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Any hopes that the negotiating of Britain's exit from the European Union can come without acrimony have just about evaporated. The European
Commission president has now added fuel to a weeklong public spat with the British Prime Minister, Theresa May. Jean-Claude Juncker delivered a
speech in French because, as he put it, English is losing importance. Remember, the speech he was giving was in Italy. He chose to speak in
French, having put the boot in in English. You understand? CNN's Fred Pleitgen explains how relations in Europe are, quite simply, toxic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another day, another rhetorical shot fired between the EU and Britain over
the Brexit negotiations. Once again, it was EU commission president, Jean- Claude Juncker, lighting the fuse, speaking add an event in Italy.
SEAN CLAUDE JUNCKER, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: I will express myself in French, because slowly but surely, English is losing importance in
Europe.
PLEITGEN: Juncker's tough guy talk caps off ten days that saw the mood between Britain and the EU sink from constructive to nearly toxic. The
trouble started last Wednesday when Juncker met Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May, in London for dinner. According to European media, Juncker
left feeling May was, quote, deluded about Brexit and that opposed Brexit deal might be in jeopardy. May fired back.
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I was described by one of my colleagues as a bloody difficult woman. And I said at the time the next
person to find that out will be Jean-Claude Juncker.
PLEITGEN: Since then, new allegations, rumors, and swipes almost every day. Eu-based media reporting Britain's final payment to the EU could be
as high as 100 billion euros. Questions about the future rights of EU citizens living in the U.K. and talk of euro denominated financial services
possibly having to relocate from Britain to main land Europe.
Meanwhile, Theresa May is engulfed in an election campaign at home, looking to bolster her government in the upcoming negotiations. May all but
accusing the EU of trying to meddle in the vote.
MAY: All of these acts have been deliberately timed to affect the result of the general election that will take place on the 8th of June.
PLEITGEN: The stakes are high, leading the head of the EU council to call on all sides to tone down the talk.
DONALD TUSK, EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT: These negotiations are difficult enough as they are. If we start arguing before they even begin, they will
become impossible.
PLEITGEN: Both EU and U.K. officials say they want a post-Brexit agreement. But they acknowledge the barbs traded in the past days will
make it tougher to achieve a deal. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: There you have Peter Westmacott, a diplomat who served at U.K. ambassador to the United States, France, and Turkey. Good to see you, sir.
PETER WESTMACOTT, FORMER BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. AND FRANCE: Good evening, nice to see you again.
QUEST: What do you make of it? It's gratuitously offensive, some would say, the sort of comments Juncker is making.
WESTMACOTT: I think we are in an election campaign in the U.K. We are also at the beginning of the really serious part of the negotiation after
Article 50. Juncker is somebody who obviously feels that over the years the Brits haven't always treated him very well. He seems to have been
disappointed by the outcome of the famous dinner at 10 Downing Street. Whether he or whether somebody on his behalf was busy leaking accounts of
that dinner to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, we don't know.
QUEST: Right. But all that said, and diplomat though you are, his comment after that dinner, it was excellent, but I don't mean the food, followed
by, English is going to slowly but surely disappear or lose importance. Why bother making those sorts of comments? At a time when his counterpart,
Donald Tusk, is specifically saying, stop this everybody. Start behaving like adults.
WESTMACOTT: Well of course, Donald Tusk is the president of the Council. Otherwise he the representative of the heads of government. Whereas,
Juncker is the head of the commission and to an extent has his own agenda. The thing about the English language today in Italy seem to me was a bit
gratuitous. Even if you want to score a few points off the Brits, has he forgotten that English is actually the lingua franca of the entire English-
speaking world and it's not in decline? It was a slightly odd thing to do. But I think what we have to understand is that there's a certain amount of
ill will, a bit of bad blood here. Tusk is doing a good job of calming things down. I'm sure people on this side will want to get that down and
get stuck into the serious negotiations quite soon.
QUEST: Right. The election, the U.K. election, does all of this help or harm Theresa May in the sense of, does it make her look Boudica type, that
she's marching forward. That she's the only one that can stand up to these Europeans. Or the opposite. That actually she will antagonizing them.
When Juncker attacks, who is he helping?
WESTMACOTT: It seems to me that it doesn't do her any harm. I'm not suggesting that she in any sense set this up. I don't think she did. I
believe that's come from a different direction. But if you have called a general election and the main purpose, as she says, is not a general
election about everything under the sun but it is about Brexit, and about the British position, and about giving herself a thumping great majority so
she can negotiate toughly for Britain. It's not a bad thing just a few weeks before the vote if you suddenly find that the other lot are, if you
like, playing dirty and you've got to stand up and be very firm and British and Boudica-like.
[16:25:05] QUEST: Will Bonnier rise above all this. Now we know the history of him as it relates to the city, but he may have a sort of a
dislike of certain forms of capitalism. But he doesn't have an animus to the U.K.
WESTMACOTT: I don't think he does. And we should remember, that Michel Bonnier is a person who during a difficult legal battle Between the ECB,
the European Central Bank, and the City of London, sided with the City of London over the legality of continuing to do euro-denominated clearing work
in London. I agree with you, he doesn't have an animus. English is not his strongest language. He doesn't like people being mean and rude about
him, who does? But you're absolutely right, he's got no particular agenda that's anti-British. I'm sure that's right.
QUEST: Whichever way this comes, I mean these negotiations will go on 18 months or whatever it is.
WESTMACOTT: Longer.
QUEST: The core of them, it's got to go to the Parliaments to be approved, but the core of the issue, frankly, Peter, won't have changed from day one
until the last day, will it? It's all about not just the Brexit bill as such, but the future relationship and the level and depth of a trade deal
that can be done between both sides.
WESTMACOTT: I think that is right. But it is going to be very difficult to get that sorted in less than two years. And that is one reason why this
election is very important. If Theresa May gets a large majority, which is what everybody expects, she will be able to go to her fellow Europeans at
the moment and say, we can't get this thing done in a short space of time, let's have a sensible transitional arrangement.
QUEST: But why will her large majority make that any different? She can say I'm going to stick out for that, and they can turn around and say, you
can like what you like but we're not going to do it.
WESTMACOTT: Two reasons. First of all, there will be no question mark about whether she's about to have to face a general election because the
clock starts ticking in five years. Secondly at the moment, she's often suspected of looking over the shoulder at the kind of lunatic euro skeptics
within her party. Because she only has a majority of 12. If she comes back with the majority of 100 or 150, she can say to the all, I have got
this large majority. And she can say to them, I trust me and I now have the negotiating room to get the right deal for Britain and four Europe. It
actually strengthens her position in a number of ways.
QUEST: Brilliant to see you. Have a good weekend.
WESTMACOTT: Pleasure.
QUEST: Thanks very much. Macron in France?
WESTMACOTT: Probably. Looks like it.
QUEST: Got a freebie. Got an extra question in. If you want to follow on what's happening. I've written about the Juncker comments, look at the at
the QUEST MEANS BUSINESS newsletter. It gets published just after New York closes and it's ready before Europe opens or in this case the weekend.
It's at CNNMoney.com/Quest.
The family, another video, this time it's Delta, so the Triumphant. We've had all three, United, American, now Delta has a video. This time it's a
family that's being booted off a plane because a child is in the wrong seat. It's up next.
[16:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Hello, I'm Richard Quest. There's a lot more QUEST MEANS BUSINESS in just a moment. China's first large jet liner makes its maiden flight,
I'll report on that. And I will speak to candidates in the race to run the World Tourism Organization as election day approached for that. This is
CNN, and on this network, the news always comes first.
Campaigning in the French presidential election officially ends less than two hours from now. Voting is on Sunday. Centrist Emmanuel Macron, far
right candidate Marine Le Pen are both making campaign stops today. Polls show Macron is ahead. Le Pen says she believes victory is within reach.
A U.S. Navy SEAL, was killed in Somalia during an operation against Al Shabaab. Two other U.S. military members were wounded when they came under
fire in Mogadishu. The pentagon says the attackers were quickly neutralized.
At least 35 people have been killed during the ongoing unrest in Venezuela. Officials in Venezuela say hundreds have been hurt. Protesters have taken
to the streets almost daily to demonstrate against President Nicolas Maduro. The UN and U.S. say they're watching the situation closely.
An alleged assassination plot in North Korea. North Koreans say that the U.S. and South Korea conspired to kill Kim Jong Un and said the plot was
recently foiled. CNN can't confirm the truth of the report.
Delta is apologizing for kicking a family off one of its flights in the U.S. another video this time surfacing, showing a father arguing with Delta
staff over the seat his infant son was sitting in. Delta wanted to give it to a standby passenger because the seat was booked under the name of a
different family member. Eight minutes back and forth. Eventually the entire family was booted off the plane and told, you are on your own.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DELTA PASSENGER: We're getting kicked off that plane no matter what, now? I got two infants. There's no more flights. Are we supposed to sleep in
the airport?
DELTA ATTENDANT: You're on your own.
DELTA PASSENGER: What are we supposed to do when we're off this plane?
DELTA ATTENDANT: That's not up to me.
DELTA PASSENGER: It should be.
DELTA ATTENDANT: It's not. At this point you guys are on your own. We will get all your bags off, sir.
DELTA PASSENGER: All right. Unbelievable. Great customer service.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[16:35:00] QUEST: Rene Marsh in Washington. What do we -- without getting into the details of who said what to who, where, when, and why, let's talk
at a much greater level on this one, please. The third video. Does this tell us something systemically is wrong or is it just the sheer size and
scale of operation that these events will happen?
RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: You know, Richard, I spent a large part of the day talking to consumer advocates, the FAA, the TSA, because
you heard that the flight attendant or delta official said it was federal law and the person couldn't be there. That's just simply not true. TSA
telling me themselves today they don't have any federal law that says that a family couldn't transfer a ticket from one family member to the other.
So, what you have here is multiple instances, including this one being the latest one, where people are walking away from a situation feeling that
customer service gets an "F," a total "F." and many of the people I spoke to said this is systemic because look, let's face it, Richard, there are
not a lot of choices as far as the number of airlines that you can choose from, and consumer advocates feel that airlines figure you have to fly, so
customer service is not at the top of their list these days.
QUEST: All right. Let me play devil's advocate with you here, Renee, if I may. The U.S. network on an average day will have the best part of up to 2
million passengers flying across in some thousands of flights. Now, Renee, there will also be -- these flights, with consolidation and capacity cuts,
they're up to 90, 95 percent full, in close quarters, on metal tubes, in stressed situation, where everybody is tense. Isn't this inevitable that
there will be two or three of these incidents every now and again?
MARSH: I think you hit the nail on the head. These flights are full. You're not going to have a situation where many times you get on a flight
and you have seats empty next to you. So yes, this is the circumstance that's created, the environment that's created where you have full flights,
people are uneasy. You have people who are looking at the news and they've seen weeks before, viral video of airline officials dragging people off the
flight. So, people are coming into the situation with a certain mindset I think on both ends. Then you also have a situation where, time and time
again in united airlines' case and in this delta case, people working for the airline are following airline policies but may not be using common
sense. That might be one of the issues that we're seeing coming up.
QUEST: Devil's advocate again. I'm just putting you on --
MARSH: OK.
QUEST: You say they're not using common sense.
MARSH: Oh, I didn't say that. Consumer advocates are saying that.
QUEST: Fine. Consumer advocates say that, thank you. But those consumer advocates, aren't they forgetting the sheer size and scale of the network,
that you have to have rules and procedures that sometimes come up against people, and that's where it happens. You know better than anybody, Renee,
the sheer size of the U.S. aviation industry. You can't have staff making up rules as they go along, because -- maybe even have escalating policies
where they can put it up to supervisors more easily.
MARSH: Certainly. You cannot make up rules as you go along, that's true. But what you also can't have is the optics of, whether it be a passenger
being dragged off of a flight, or you have a situation where you have a family of four traveling with children and you know that is a paid seat,
you have to also have the ability to be able to think common-sense-wise and say, look, in this instance, is this really going to be an issue. Because
as you pointed out, they wanted to give that seat up to a standby flier. So, this entire family was going to be deplaned for one standby traveler.
Some people watching that saying, look, the man paid for the ticket, he should be allowed to fly with his family.
QUEST: We've been keeping you busy, Renee.
MARSH: Good to be with you.
QUEST: Have a good weekend.
The global passenger jet market dominated by a handful of players. Boeing in the U.S., we've got -- well, look, Boeing's in the United States.
Airbus in France and the Europe consortium. They are the two at the larger end from the 320, the 737s and upwards. Then we've got in the regional jet
market, Ember Air and Bombardier in Canada, which is starting to encroach in smaller markets for Boeing and Airbus. And now add to this China, which
happens which wants to join the fray, with potentially thousands of sales of aircraft from its own airlines before it even gets involved in the rest
of the world. Matt Rivers had this dispatch from Beijing.
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: China is the world's second largest aviation market, with hundreds of millions of trips being taken
each year. But for now, those passengers are being flown on jets made by companies from outside this country, think Boeing and airbus. But on
Friday, there was a big - step taken towards changing that. That's because the first Chinese-made large passenger aircraft, made its long-awaited
maiden flight. The plane is about the same size as other planes you've probably seen like the Boeing 737-800 and the airbus a-320, the two most
popular planes on the planet. The goal here is to take advantage of the growing global market for air travel, and more specifically, the colossal
growth being seen here in China. It's set to overtake the U.S. as the biggest aviation market in the world by 2030 if not sooner. In order to do
that, airlines are going to need a lot more planes, a trillion dollars' worth, according to estimates from Boeing.
[16:40:00] The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China wants a slice of that pie. Chinese state-owned carriers have already placed orders for the
new jet. But it hasn't been all smooth flying for the 919. Years of technical delays pushed this debut back over a year. It's a long way to go
before you see lots of these in the skies over China. The aircraft is likely to go through years of standard testing. They'll need to gain the
trust of airlines in China and beyond by showing the jet can rely efficiently and reliably on scheduled flights. Once that happens, industry
analysts say stealing market share will be an uphill battle given the industry dominance of leaders Boeing and airbus. But still, you know the
saying. You've got to start somewhere. And China has now made and flown its first big commercial jet liner. Something only seven other countries
in the world have ever done. Matt Rivers, CNN, Beijing.
QUEST: A fascinating point. And of course, with so many domestic orders already on the plane and the potential for more, that creates a nice
foundation with which to launch your new plane.
On this jobs-Friday in the United States, we'll take you inside the solar power industry. We've seen spectacular growth and skepticism of the Trump
White House.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Welcome back. Cloud crude prices are rebounding, crude is up 1.5 percent as oil prices produce a scramble for market share amid shrinking
demand. At April 10th it went down, but now it notches back up again. Solar power is also gaining ground. The industry is pretty much responding
to what's been seen in other parts of the energy market. As Clare Sebastian look at the fate of solar power in Donald Trump's America.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN: 65-year-old Norm makes carrying a 40-pound solar panel up a 40-foot ladder look easy. For the former iron worker, this is the good
life.
NORMAN FILMORE, SOLAR INSTALLER: The pay is OK, it's livable. The working environment, as you can see, is great. The best view in the world.
SEBASTIAN: Up on the roof is 21-year-old teammate who got a start right out of high school.
NOAH LEONARD, SOLAR INSTALLER: What excites me over other jobs is the fact that it's solar energy. We're doing good for the planet.
[16:45:00] SEBASTIAN: It's not as easy as it looks. Clearly if you're not keen on heights, this may not be the job for you. But in an economy where
skilled middle income jobs have been the slowest to recover, solar is taking off. One in 50 new jobs added in the U.S. last year were in the
solar industry, according to the solar foundation. U.S. government figures show solar now employs more than twice as many people as coal. For the
founder of Venture Solar in New York two years ago, it's been a wild climb.
ALEX ZACHERY, CO-FOUNDER, VENTURE SOLAR: We got started in a 75-square foot office. We now have over 70 employees. We're growing on a weekly
basis.
SEBASTIAN: The cost of installing solar has fallen by 60 percent in the last ten years. Financing options mean most of Alex's customers pay
nothing up front. And there are other incentives.
MARK CHAMBERS, DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY, NYC OFFICE OF THE MAYOR: New York city has a tax credit. So, on top of the federal and state tax
credits.
SEBASTIAN: In fact, New York city is so committed to solar, it's installed panels on the roof of city hall.
CHAMBERS: We have a goal to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
SEBASTIAN: A very different approach to the new administration in Washington.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: The alternative is so expensive.
SEBASTIAN: President Donald Trump is skeptical of alternative energy, recently signing a new executive order cutting regulation on the coal
industry.
TRUMP: You're going back to work.
CHAMBERS: The Trump administration may have abdicated its responsibility to protect and prepare us for a future full of renewal energy. But New
York city has not.
ZACHERY: Solar creates jobs. So, although the administration is not necessarily pro-renewable-energy, they're pro jobs.
SEBASTIAN: As for Norm, he only has one regret.
FILMORE: I should have gone into it sooner.
SEBASTIAN: CNNMoney, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: The World Economic Forum on Africa has finished and the focus on sustainable growth across the continent was the key issue. Eleni Giokos
was there to host a special panel on how digital payments are creating an inclusive economy, as Africa looks forward.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: What's fascinating about mobile money transfers is that globally, only 2 percent of the adult population
actually use this platform. In Africa, it's 12 percent. So, talkers have a really big role to play.
STEPHEN VAN COLLER, VP, DIGITAL SERVICES MTN: Why have mobile companies, and I'll use MTN as an example, 26 million subscribers, where is banks like
Barclays, et cetera, have got 8 million subscribers in terms of accounts. Why is this that big difference? How can a mobile company deal with so
many people but banks can't? Banks were set up in the past for the top end of society. They want to do big transactions and they want clients with
lots of money, not clients with very little money and do very little transactions. If you want to get financial inclusion, you have to start
bottom up. That's the beauty about digital and computers, is it doesn't matter whether it's one dollar or a million dollars. It does the
transaction because it's the same electronic pulse.
GIOKOS: So, it doesn't matter if it's a dollar or a million?
UZOMA DOZIE, GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO, DIAMOND BANK NIGERIA: If we use traditional banking, you won't reach the population you want. It will
be substandard financial services. It's just a glorified money transfer. It allows you to save access, credit, get access to the customers. It has
to be a collaboration where you bring the tech from the low-cost deployment from telco and the banking knowledge and putting it together, which is what
we're doing in Nigeria.
INEKE BUSSEMAKER, CEO, NATURAL MICROFINANCE BANK: To me, the essence is changing the cash into digital. The banks have a big role to play. It's
not just the payments. It's building up the credit history. But it's also making it very accessible and very easy for customers to use. And
actually, that is -- digital is easier than cash in many ways.
AISHA PANDOR, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, SWEEPSOUTH: Our business also deals with a platform that connects homeowners with domestic workers. We deal with
domestic workers in South Africa who actually for the most part are banked. But they're behavior with banking is that they will get money and
immediately withdraw that money because the cost of transacting is so high. To be paying a transaction fee on, you know, a 50-rand that comes into your
bank account, it's just paying 10, 20 percent of that on transactions is just not feasible. What happens there is people, yes, they do have bank
accounts, they are transacting. Then withdrawing that money and what they're doing with that money and the circulation of that money is all
happening offline. I think it's about access but also about the cost of transacting, and people trusting if banks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[16:50:00] QUEST: The World Tourism Organization is to get a new secretary general with the election taking place next week in Madrid. Brazil's
candidate told me his top priority is to create a positive impact as more travelers seek responsible holidays.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIO FAVILLA DE PAULA, CANDIDATE FOR UN WTO SECRETARY GENERAL: The biggest issue for me now is to assure that the growth of tourism takes
place in a sustainable way, that it is for all people, developing and developed nations. And sustainability, we have to understand the different
pillars, economic, social, and environmental. Part of that are the risk and crisis issues that we have today. We have to ensure that countries are
able to deal with those issues. And working together, not in isolation, but working together.
QUEST: Would you have come out strongly and forcefully in your statements against the Trump travel bans?
DE PAULA: At the U.N. system, particularly the U.N. WTO and those that work in our sector, we have as a principle to be against blaming or
pointing fingers against countries as a whole. There are problems, there are problems with individuals. But you cannot finger point countries and
say that these are countries that do not deserve to be in the international community. They are all in the U.N. system.
QUEST: Right, but let me interrupt you. What I'm asking you is, would you have been in favor, if you had been the sec gen, would you have criticized
the U.S., and directly Donald Trump, for his travel bans?
DE PAULA: I think what I did was absolutely correct. At that moment, I stood by him and I still think and I will think it was the right position.
So, I have to think that I would have done the same.
QUEST: The battle for this job has got nasty. There are allegations within the African membership between the two countries' candidates there,
there are questions concerning some candidates and whether there has been unauthorized or inappropriate lobbying. How worried are you that this is
just turning into a mess?
DE PAULA: Richard, from the very beginning, and I've talked to some of the candidates, last year, when I felt that I would stand, and some of them had
already announced, and I said, look, we have to make sure that we keep it at the very high level, and I will not criticize any candidate. So that's
what I have done so far. Sometimes people ask me about other candidates. I have never talked about any other candidates. So, I think that's the way
to be.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: The election will take place next Thursday and Friday. Let's be clear, all candidates have been invited to put their point, as you heard
tonight, on this program. A Profitable Moment after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Tonight's Profitable Moment. You can always rely on Jean-Claude Juncker to say something inappropriate. When he said today, slowly by
surely, English is losing importance in Europe, he said it in Italy. He was speaking or he was about to speak, give a speech in French, and he was
referring to, with of course, the fact that the U.K.'s leaving the European Union. You've got to ask yourself, what purpose does it serve, other than
to antagonize, other than to infuriate at such a time. That's the environment we are in at the moment.
But perhaps Jean-Claude Juncker would be wise to follow the advice of his counterpart at the council, Donald tusk, who said that everybody, perhaps,
should guard their tongue and watch what they say at this critical time. Comments like Juncker's help nobody. And that's QUEST MEANS BUSINESS for
tonight. I'm Richard Quest in London. Whatever you're up to in the hours ahead, I hope it's profitable. I'll see you on Monday.
END
