Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss posted an adjusted EBIT profit of Swfr 6.7 million ($7.4 million) in the third quarter, rebounding from an EBIT loss of Swfr 148 million during the same period last year. Total revenue increased 91% year on year to Swfr 708 million from Swfr 371 million in the third quarter of 2020, the flag carrier says. Swiss chief financial officer Markus Binkert states: “We were able to both sell our increased capacities and further lower our costs over the summer months. But our third-quarter earnings result is still substantially below its pre-crisis levels.” Load factor for the third quarter amounted to 66%, on capacity that was at 55% of its pre-crisis level, Swiss notes. Swiss carried 3.7 million passengers in the first nine months of 2021, down 15% year on year. Capacity, as measured in available seat-kilometres, was down 3%, while revenue passenger-kilometres fell by 24%. The nine-month seat load factor stood at 51%, 14 percentage points below its prior-year level.

Thai Airways International plans to halve its current fleet of 116 aircraft and reduce its workforce as part of its restructuring. Thai says that it plans to sell 42 aircraft and terminate the lease and hire purchase contracts for 16 aircraft. The 42 aircraft comprise three Airbus A330-300's, two A380's, two Boeing 777-200ER's, six Boeing 777-200's, six 777-300's, one A300-600, three A340-500s, six A340-600s, three Boeing 737-400, and 10 Boeing 747-400. The 16 leased aircraft to be cancelled comprise 12 A330-300's and four A380's. Data indicates that as part of the reduction Thai will completely phase out a number of types from its fleet, including 777-200's and -300's, 737-400s, 747-400's, A380's, A330-300's and A340-500's and -600's. Thai says it will have 58 aircraft in its fleet after the exercise, including 20 Airbus A320s operated by subsidiary Thai Smile. Thai Airways did not comment on whether it had received regulatory approval from the CAAT to sell or dispose of the aircraft. The flag carrier also intends to lay off nearly a thousand of its 14,900 employees, "according to its rehabilitation plan". It plans to reduce its workforce to 14,500 employees in January and to 14,000 employees by December 2022.

German engine specialist MTU and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency are jointly exploring ways of certificating hydrogen-powered fuel cells for propulsion of future aircraft. "When it comes to the approval of a flying fuel cell, all parties involved are entering uncharted territory, which is why we are seeking dialogue with the certification bodies at such an early stage," states MTU head of quality Thomas Frank. Munich-based MTU describes fuel-cells as a "very promising propulsion concept" and says the technology is an integral part of its "Clean Air Engine" roadmap. Studies with EASA will cover development of new standards, approval regulations and verification procedures, MTU notes. Chief engineer flying fuel-cell Barnaby Law states: "We rely on a strong network of partnerships and research collaborations. Together with EASA, we are breaking new ground for a sustainable orientation of aviation." EASA chief engineer Alain Leroy says MTU is one of the first companies to co-operate with the regulator in this area. Together with German aerospace research centre DLR, the engine subassembly manufacturer and MRO provider is developing a fuel-cell powertrain demonstrator that will be tested in flight on a Dornier 228 utility aircraft. One of the twin's turboprop engines will be replaced with an electrically powered propeller.