United will allow 2,200 unvaccinated employees to return to their jobs this month, saying there are signs that the Covid-19 pandemic is “beginning to meaningfully recede.” Workers who were granted religious or medical exemptions and put on unpaid leave can resume working on March 28, Kirk Limacher, United’s vice president of human resources, said Thursday in a staff memo. “The omicron surge shows clear signs of receding,” he said, citing declining case counts and hospitalization rates. “Of course, if another variant emerges or the Covid trends suddenly reverse course, we will reevaluate the appropriate safety protocols at that time.” United was among the most aggressive US employers in requiring that workers be vaccinated, announcing a companywide mandate in August. The airline fired about 200 employees and put those with a “reasonable accommodation” on leave or in new roles removed from customers and other workers. United’s mandate drew a lawsuit in September from employees who said it violates religious and disability workplace accommodation laws. That litigation is continuing through appeals.<br/>
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Ethiopian Airlines has emerged as the unidentified buyer of five Boeing current-generation 777 freighters reported this week, two people familiar with the matter said. The order, posted as an unnamed airline in Boeing's monthly orders update on Tuesday, is separate from a recently announced provisional agreement by Ethiopian for later deliveries of five of a successor model, the 777X freighter, also known as the 777-8 cargo version. Ethiopian ordered the current-generation 777 freighters to meet near-term cargo demand, the sources said. Boeing declined to comment. The airline did not respond to a request for comment. It was not immediately clear whether the airline would press ahead with both sets of orders, but several airlines have been aggressively adding capacity to address a boom in cargo demand. The airline operates Africa's largest cargo terminal from its Addis Ababa hub. The IATA said on Wednesday that growth in demand had softened in January due in part to the impact of the Omicron coronavirus variant. But supply chain disruptions that surfaced at the start of the pandemic recovery and stoked air cargo demand are still present.<br/>
Singapore Airlines will operate five freighter planes on behalf of DHL Express by the end of next year as it seeks to further tap on the booming air cargo market. SIA and DHL said in a joint statement on Thursday that they have signed a crew and maintenance agreement for SIA to deploy five Boeing 777 freighters. The initial agreement will last for more than four years, with the option to extend further. The value of the agreement is undisclosed.<br/> The planes will sport a dual DHL-SIA livery. They will be based at Changi Airport - a first for DHL. The planes will be operated by SIA pilots on routes to the United States via points in North Asia. The first aircraft delivery will be in July and the second in October. The remaining three planes are scheduled to be delivered next year. SIA executive vice-president of commercial Lee Lik Hsin said the new freighter operation will support the fast growing e-commerce segment. "Basing these freighters at Changi Airport will further reinforce Singapore's position as a key air cargo and e-commerce logistics hub, contributing to its growth and development," he added. Ken Lee, CE of DHL Express Asia Pacific, said the agreement guarantees capacity on DHL's critical routes out of Singapore. It will also give the firm more flexibility to add new routes and optimise aircraft utilisation in response to sudden changes.<br/>