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United Airlines and Dubai’s Emirates are set to announce a codeshare agreement in the coming weeks, sources said. United on Tuesday sent an invitation to reporters to a “special event” on Sept. 14 titled “Come fly with us” with Chief Executive Scott Kirby and Emirates President Tim Clark in Washington. The Air Current reported the expected announcement earlier. United did not offer additional comment. An Emirates spokesperson confirmed the airlines will make “a joint announcement” on Sept. 14 in Washington, declining to elaborate. After receiving government approvals, a codeshare would allow both airlines’ customers access to additional destinations that each do not currently serve. The agreement is likely to help United better compete for customers flying to the Gulf region. In June, American Airlines and Qatar Airways said they were expanding a strategic alliance announced in early 2020 with a new codeshare agreement, expanding the agreement to 16 additional countries. American said in June the deal would establish “American as the only US carrier to serve the Gulf region, seamlessly connecting through Doha with Qatar Airways.” Starting in 2015, the largest US carriers argued their Gulf rivals were being unfairly subsidized by their governments, distorting competition and costing US jobs - something the Gulf carriers adamantly denied.<br/>

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operator in Africa, said that it has finalized all preparations to commence a thrice-weekly passenger flight to Amman, Jordan from September 19, 2022. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mesfin Tasew said: “We are truly pleased to further deepen our presence in the middle east with our new flight to Amman, Jordan, and our pleasure is doubled since we are able to do it at such a difficult time for the aviation industry. With the commencement of our new flight to Amman, passengers departing from/to the middle east can enjoy the extensive Ethiopian network worldwide with convenient connectivity and smooth transfer at Addis Ababa. Our new flight will also further strengthen the economic ties between Ethiopia and Jordan.”<br/>

China’s big three state-owned airlines saw total losses during the Covid pandemic balloon to 127.6b yuan ($18.5b) by the end of June, as the country stuck with its zero-tolerance strategy of border restrictions and snap lockdowns. Air China said Tuesday its net loss in the first six months of 2022 widened 186% to 19.4b yuan from the same period last year, while China Southern Airlines Co. reported a deficit of 11.5b yuan. China Eastern Airlines lost 18.7b yuan. China Southern cited a fall in passenger revenue from domestic travel, while Air China blamed its loss on reduced capacity. A weaker yuan and high oil prices also played a part. While the rest of the world has moved on to living with Covid and treating it as endemic, China is persisting with trying to stamp out the virus. Its borders have been largely sealed throughout the pandemic, leading to a collapse in international flights. Domestic air services have propped up carriers, but not enough to stem losses, and lockdowns in places such as Shanghai and tourist hotspot like Sanya are major deterrents to even internal travel. China Eastern was particularly badly hit by lockdowns in Shanghai, where it is based. The airline also had to deal with a disaster -- one of its planes crashed in southwestern China in March, killing all 132 people on board. That was the country’s first fatal commercial aviation accident in more than a decade. Investigations are ongoing. China Eastern had warned losses could reach 19.5b yuan in the first half. Beijing-based Air China had forecast a deficit of between 18.5b yuan and 21b yuan, while China Southern warmed it may lose 12.1b yuan. All three results were in-line with previous guidance.<br/>

Thai Airways is aiming to resume its position as one of the world's top ten airlines after the completion of its rehabilitation process, the national flag carrier's executives said. The airline has planned to secure strategic partnerships with various private firms, including Thailand's largest energy conglomerate PTT Plc,<br/>as part of its business rehabilitation scheme. The carrier will tomorrow ask creditors to approve its revised rehabilitation plan which is a crucial stage for the airline's financial recovery. "There is likely not a problem [for the plan approval]. The plan is the way to rehabilitate the company's financial status and benefit the creditors," said Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of THAI's committee overseeing the airline's rehabilitation plan. Piyasvasti said that THAI had slipped to be among the world's top 30 airlines as it entered into its rehabilitation process. This has all occurred amid the protracted Covid-19 pandemic which has considerably impacted the global airline business, he said. Piyasvasti admitted that entering a court rehabilitation process has<br/>affected the airline's operations and services, resulting in negative reviews from passengers about the airline. For example, he said, the company could not refund passenger tickets after its flights were unable to operate during the pandemic due to restricted conditions under its debt rehabilitation processes. But the company has seen business improve significantly, thanks to<br/>rebounding tourist arrivals and the reduction of costs due to business restructuring. Story has more.<br/>

Thai Airways International has sold five Airbus A340-600s for Bt350m ($13m), ending a 13-year search for buyers. According to a story in Thailand’s Nation newspaper, quoting Thai chief technical officer Cherdphan Chotikhun, a contract has been signed for the long-decommissioned jets – though he did not identify the buyer. He adds that the transport ministry still needs to approve the sale, and that the aircraft fetched a price higher than their assessed value. Chotikhun says that the airline’s restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic laid the groundwork for a successful sale. “In the past, we were bound by regulations of state firms, which gave us almost no chance to sell the decommissioned planes,” he is reported as saying. “As a result, THAI had to shoulder the cost burden of the decommissioned planes for years.” According to Thai’s aircraft trading web site, Thai has successfully sold nine A340s, comprising six -600s and three -500s.<br/>