United Airlines on Wednesday reported revenue of $12.1b in the three months that ended in June, its largest quarterly haul in at least a decade and the most it has ever earned in the second quarter of a year. High costs put a damper on the good news, however, holding profit to $329m, after a loss of nearly $1.4b in Q1. The airline said it expected the economy to slow “in the near to medium term.” And its CE, Scott Kirby, said that the possibility of a recession, high fuel prices and the industry’s struggles to keep operations running smoothly posed threats to the industry over the next six to 18 months. But United said it was optimistic nevertheless, given the strength of the travel recovery. “These fundamental challenges have already led to higher costs, higher fuel prices,” Kirby said — but “also higher revenue.” United said it expected operating revenue in Q3, which ends in September, to be up about 11% from the same quarter in 2019. The earnings report, delivered after the close of regular trading, sent United shares down more than 6 percent. After more than two lackluster years, airlines are enjoying a travel boom. But staffing shortfalls, high costs and other challenges have held the industry back, forcing many carriers to rein in their ambitions to limit operational meltdowns. <br/>
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Kenya Airways and South African Airways have struck a codeshare agreement, marking a first step in wider partnership plans between the two African carriers. The codeshare adds a series of onward connections to points within Africa from the carriers’ respective networks. SkyTeam carrier Kenya Airways and Star Alliance member SAA last year agreed a strategic partnership agreement aimed developing connectivity within Africa. Kenya Airways CE Allan Kilavuka says: ”As part of our Strategic Partnership Framework, we will contribute to making it easier for passengers to reach exciting new destinations within Africa. The additional destinations we believe will offer a better customer journey thanks to the number of frequencies and connections created as well as many opportunities for trade and tourism.” SAA interim CE John Lamola says: “Through the codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways, South African Airways’ valued clientele will gain new travel choices to markets across East Africa via Kenya’s extensive network and hub in Nairobi, providing for seamless travel and status recognition.”<br/>
Ethiopian Airlines is at the “final stage” of discussions to convert four of its Airbus A350-900 commitments to the larger variant of the twinjet. The carrier’s CE Mesfin Tasew made the observation during the Farnborough air show on 20 July, where he was marking the signing of a landing-gear maintenance deal with Boeing Global Services. “We are seriously considering to convert four of the existing orders for the A350 aircraft from -900 to -1000,” Tasew says. “It is at final stage of discussions.” Ethiopian has long discussed placing an order for either the A350-1000 or Boeing 777X. Earlier this year, it signed a tentative agreement to take five 777X freighters. Cirium fleets data suggests Ethiopian has 18 A350-900s in service, with six outstanding firm orders.<br/>
Asiana Airlines, Korea's second-biggest carrier, said Wednesday it will resume the Incheon-Beijing route this week in more than two years to meet rising demand between the two countries. Asiana will inject a 298-seat A330 plane to offer one flight a week starting Saturday and consider increasing the number of flights on the route, depending on market demand, the company said in a statement. Currently, Asiana operates one flight a week, respectively, on the routes from Incheon to three Chinese cities: Nanjing, Changchun and Harbin.<br/>