CATHAY Pacific pilots were becoming increasingly concerned about safety and the way the company was treating them as the strike by cabin crews continued into its 12th day yesterday.
The pilots were worried that they were being forced to work longer hours with less rest, one said yesterday.
He claimed that in some instances, flight attendants were working over their allowable shifts, and some exceeding their shifts by four hours during long hauls.
Crew members were also being told to stay in ports other than those they had chosen after long flights, he alleged.
But the company last night denied both claims and stressed that the captain on each flight had the ultimate responsibility for safety.
''Some pilots are being required to work [too] often,'' said the pilot, who declined to be identified. ''We are being required to work hours that we normally don't.'' After long flights to Europe or North America, pilots often take off more than the three-day minimum to compensate for jet lag, he said. But now pilots were often being drawn back to work after the minimum period of rest.
Although within requirements, this could put pilots at risk, the pilot said.