Turkish Airlines has been operating its newly-delivered initial pair of Airbus A350-900s on domestic routes, but has yet to confirm a schedule for the remaining aircraft. The airline had 25 A350s on order but, while it had been intending to take five this year, the carrier has not detailed the revised fleet plan recently agreed with Airbus. Its initial A350s were handed over without fanfare, possibly a consequence of the high-level political row between France and Turkey which emerged in mid-October. Turkish Airlines posted an operating profit, before investment activities, of $75m for Q3 to 30 September although it still recorded an operating loss for the nine months of $367m and a net loss of $786m. Revenues for the nine months halved to $4.96b and were down by more than 60%, to $1.5b, in Q3. The company says it has conducted an impairment test for the fleet, under different scenarios, but has not needed to recognise any. Turkish Airlines says its capacity during Q3 reached 31% of the level last year, and expects to reach 45% in Q4 – forecasting a 60% decline in passenger numbers and 59% fall in capacity for the full year.<br/>
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Ethiopian Airlines has had its ban extended on its flight from Addis Ababa to Shanghai Pudong. The flight has already been banned for five weeks, but Chinese authorities agreed to an extension as more passengers have tested positive for COVID-19. The ban continues until at least January 1, 2021. Ethiopian Airlines received its first temporary suspension way back in August after six people tested positive. However, the ban lasted just one week. China enforced the second ban because five passengers on flight ET684 on October 6 tested positive for COVID-19. Another ten tested positive a week later on October 13th. Starting from October 26, the ban was set to last just five weeks. However, another 11 passengers have now tested positive on October 20. This means Ethiopian Airlines is responsible for transporting at least 32 COVID-infected people into China since August. As a result of the latest tests, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has added four weeks to the original five-week ban. As a result of the ban, Ethiopian has delayed the launch of its new flight connecting Addis Ababa with Beijing until January 1, 2021. <br/>
United customers have filed a lawsuit alleging they were the victims of age discrimination, saying they were excluded from a 10% discount offered to 18- to 22-year-olds. The suit, filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of California, alleges violations of California anti-discrimination law and seeks class-action status on behalf of customers excluded from the promotion because of their age. Plaintiffs Fuiolevaga Riddick, of Los Angeles, and David Pacheco, of San Diego, were 23 and 67 years old, respectively, at the time the alleged discrimination occurred, according to the complaint. The promotion was intended to make travel more available to younger people who are either still in college or just starting their careers, United spokeswoman Rachael Rivas said Wednesday. “It is a shame that a few individuals take issue with an offer that is intended to make travel more accessible to more people,” Rivas said. “We believe this lawsuit is completely baseless and will defend ourselves vigorously.”<br/>
Security was tightened at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport Wednesday after it received threats against two London-bound Air India flights scheduled for tomorrow. According to the police, US-based pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) issued a call to boycott Air India flights and urged the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to occupy the airport to "internationalise" the issue. "We have got inputs that Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has threatened that two Air India flights scheduled for London tomorrow won't be allowed to operate. The security has been tightened," said Rajeev Ranjan, DCP, Indira Gandhi International Airport. "Even though the airport is a secure place, based on the inputs we received, we have made adequate security arrangements for the safety of passengers," he said. A meeting was also held with officials of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Air India and Delhi International Airport Limited on Wednesday to discuss the massive security arrangements put in place, a senior police officer said.<br/>
Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday maintained that there was credible interest from the private sector in South African Airways, while his finance counterpart insisted that bankrolling the business rescue of the national carrier was a tough choice. "I'm unable at this point in time to give further detail," Gordhan told Parliament's watchdog Standing Committee on Public Accounts as it received a promised update on SAA's future plans. Gordhan said he could not disclose more, so as not to jeopardise the dealings, which are meant to resuscitate the airline mothballed in late September as it ran out of funding for even skeleton operations. "You will hear about this process in the next weeks," he said. Sources close to Gordhan said the prospect of a private partner, rumoured for a few weeks, were "very firm". The minister said the appointment of an interim board for SAA and a competent management team was imminent.<br/>
Thai Airways is getting creative as it looks to raise cash during the travel downturn. Later this month it will launch special flights that will fly over 99 holy sites in Thailand, building on the "flights to nowhere" craze. Thai Airways has already found new sources of income including an airline-themed cafe, dough fritters and handbags made from life vests. The airline has huge debts which have been mounting during the pandemic. Many airlines have launched flights to nowhere that take-off and land at the same airport, although Thai Airways has introduced a religious theme. Its new flight will not land at any destinations, but will fly over Buddhist temples in 31 provinces before returning to Bangkok. Dubbed the "Thai Magical Flying Experience Campaign", passengers will be encouraged to recite mantras during the three-hour trip. Passengers will be given a prayer book and special meal, with tickets ranging in price from 5,999 Thai baht (GBP149) to 9,999 baht. Thai Airways has been particularly innovative during the Covid-19 drop in passenger numbers in order to boost its revenues. Another way it is looking to raise extra cash is by making handbags out of spare life vests and slide rafts. Thai Airways' "Re-Life Collection" of limited-edition totes and handbags are so popular they are currently sold out. A spokesman said the initiative also helps it meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thai Airways says it will continue offering more eco-friendly products in the future. It has also seen huge demand for dough fritters which it sells at a number of outlets around the city of Bangkok.<br/>