Dragonair initially sacked men who declined to take delayed jet on day off but got free seats to HK
Two senior Dragonair pilots have been demoted after they refused to take the controls of a delayed flight from Japan because the return leg of the journey fell on their day off.
Dragonair had to fly a replacement cockpit crew from Hong Kong to bring the plane and its passengers back to Chek Lap Kok after a snowstorm forced it to divert from Asahikawa to Tokyo. The pilots and passengers spent the night in Tokyo.
Because the next morning was a rostered day off for both men, the two captains - an Australian and a Canadian - refused to fly the Airbus and instead claimed free seats in business class while their stand-ins piloted the flight.
Their action on February 14 is understood to have further delayed the plane as the emergency arrangements were made for a replacement crew.
Dragonair initially sacked the two pilots, but appeal hearings which ended on Thursday reduced the penalties for the men to loss of rank.
The Australian was demoted from senior to junior captain while the Canadian pilot was demoted from senior pilot to first officer, meaning substantial pay cuts. Both men insisted at their appeals that they were legally entitled to their guaranteed days off.