Reputation of Cathay and Hong Kong at risk after holiday flights fiasco
- Cancellation of dozens of flights by city’s flag carrier calls for thorough investigation and measures to ensure there is no repeat
Holiday travel surges are understandably a daunting challenge for airlines. Passengers who book flights, however, have every reason to expect carriers to use their experience and skills to handle busier periods in the annual calendar. So it was disappointing to see Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, cancel dozens of flights over the holidays.
On New Year’s Day the airline confirmed it would scrap 28 flights, and these followed its decision to call off at least 40 others since Christmas Eve.
Cathay Pacific blamed a “higher than expected pilot absence caused by seasonal illness” and insisted airline operations remained “normal overall” with a marked increase in the number of flights operated over the holiday peak season.
The company apologised to passengers for its decision to “proactively cancel” what it said was less than 1 per cent of all passenger flights since mid-December “to ensure the successful delivery of our overall services”.
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But a union representing Cathay pilots said the schedule changes stemmed more from staff shortages caused by pandemic-related lay-offs. The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association said passenger operations had only 52 per cent of the number of captains and first officers as before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last month, there were 2,532 pilots, compared with 3,885 in the fourth quarter of 2019, before the coronavirus.
Much hope has been pinned on Cathay delivering results to help re-establish its reputation in the industry and help restore the city’s status as an aviation hub. The carrier is expected to announce its first profit since 2019 after recording a better performance in the second half of last year compared with the first, thanks to higher ticket prices and strong travel demand.
However, grumbles about expensive fares and the slow resumption of pre-pandemic routes may escalate after the recent cancellations. Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the pilots’ union, told the Post that he was worried Cathay had “stalled”, despite many airlines having fully recovered.
Cathay is on a massive crew recruitment drive, but Weatherilt warned that it could take years to complete the training required. Meanwhile, cockpit crew members are reportedly complaining about getting less rest, raising concerns about health and safety.
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific cancels another 28 flights, blaming pilot illness
Staffing is a global problem for the industry as it struggles to take off again after Covid-19 shutdowns. Seasonal illness is inevitable.
However, it is only right for the city to expect its flag carrier to rise to the occasion at peak times. There needs to be a careful examination of what went wrong and then measures to ensure there is no repeat.
