Work-to-rule could cause havoc with summer flight schedules
Hundreds of Dragonair pilots have launched a work-to-rule action in a dispute over rosters and pay that they say could cause extensive disruption to passenger flights over summer.
Pilots claim some flights have already been cancelled because of the contract compliance action - an allegation Dragonair denies - and predict it will be most keenly felt from next month when schedules are busier and more crew go on leave.
The pilots say they have been forced into the action by the company's refusal to address their concerns about rostering, alleged breaches of flight-time limitations and their request for pay rises.
Dragonair pilots have not had a pay rise for four years and there is no roster agreement between the airline and its 300-plus pilots, about 85 per cent of whom are represented by the Dragonair Pilots Association.
The pilots want pay rises to bring their salaries closer to those of Cathay Pacific pilots, who generally earn about 15 per cent more.