The strike by EVA Air cabin crews continued into the 11th day July 1 after a tentative agreement collapsed when the airline refused to withdraw potential punitive measures against the striking employees. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union voted June 29 to accept the airline’s initial offers, but the following day negotiations reached an impasse over the retaliatory measures. In May, the carrier said that in the event of a strike it would consider freezing wage increases and suspending year-end bonuses for striking employees, as well as suspending discounted airfares for workers and their families for 3 years. Both parties will reconvene July 2 for another round of meetings in a bid to end Taiwan aviation’s longest strike. The labour action, which began June 20, has cost the airline about TWD1.8b, with 932 flights canceled. <br/>
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South African Airways is to modernise its fleet with a pair of Airbus A350-900s, which will be introduced in the second half of this year. The airline has given few details about the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered twinjets but says they will be leased, and configured with lie-flat beds in the business cabin as well as 246 economy seats – with extra legroom in the first 6 rows. SAA intends to use the aircraft to replace A340-600s on its route from Johannesburg to New York JFK. The modernisation is an "important indication of our commitment to the implementation of our turnaround strategy", says a spokesman for the carrier. He says the aircraft will assist with the airline's efforts to achieve financial stability in the "shortest time possible", by offering improved operating costs and route prospects. <br/>
Turkish Airlines took delivery of the first of 25 Boeing 787-9s the carrier has on order. The airline also has options for 5 more. Originally, Turkish Airlines agreed to buy 40 787-9s in an LOI signed in Sept 2017, but reduced the number to 25 in March 2018. The 787s will be gradually added to its expanding fleet between 2019 and 2023. Powered by GE Aviation GEnx-1B engines, the 787 offers a range of 14,140 km. The 300-seat 787s are configured for 270 economy- and 30 business-class seats. Business class is configured in a 1-2-1 layout, with 44 in. of legroom and a 180-degree full-flat 76-in. seat bed, as well as an 18-in. HD video display. The first 787-9 will operate domestic services from Istanbul to Antalya July 8. The first international flight will be from Istanbul to Denpasar (Bali) July 17. <br/>