South African Airways (SAA) signed a wage deal with unions Friday to end an eight-day strike that brought the cash-strapped state airline to the brink of collapse. SAA said it would restore its flight schedule to normal over the weekend and promised to delay talks with unions on job cuts until the end of January. Three of SAA’s largest trade unions agreed to a 5.9% pay rise for the financial year that began in April, with the first salary increase in February 2020 and back payments in March and April if the airline has sufficient funds. That was a similar deal to the one offered before two of the unions launched a strike on Nov. 15, making it a victory for SAA and government officials trying to curb steep financial losses at the airline. Some airline staff had returned to work during the strike as they were not paid while out on industrial action. The South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), the unions that led the strike, had pushed for an 8% salary increase. Workers belonging to another union, the National Transport Movement, which didn’t participate in the strike, will receive the same 5.9% increase. “We are therefore pleased to announce that we are calling off all strike action at SAA and SAAT (South African Airways Technical) with immediate effect, due to the fact that we have settled on a wage offer,” the unions said.<br/>
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United has launched a special edition Star Wars 737-800 connecting passengers across North America with their inner child. With a limited-edition livery painted to publicise the final film in the franchise Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the plane features a light-side and a dark-side. A dogfight between the films' recognisable TIE Fighter and X-wing spaceships is depicted on the black fuselage. This choice between good and evil continues on the inside of the aircraft. Either side of the cabin flying a 3-3 configuration, seats are decorated with either the colours of the Rebel Alliance or the Evil Empire. Although passengers' placement on either side of the battle lines has more to do with seat allocation rather a susceptibility to the "Dark Side of the Force". The plane was unveiled at the beginning of the month with an inaugural flight from Houston Texas to Orlando Florida. Accompanying the plane was a compliment of fearsome looking Storm Troopers, who posed for pictures with air travellers.<br/>