Will Cathay Pacific face a pilot exodus to mainland airlines as it cuts salaries and benefits?
Better pay, lifestyle and roster could mean about 200 cockpit staff seeking greener pastures across the border, recruiters say
This has contributed to cockpit recruiters for China’s major state-owned and private airlines making greater strides to woo Hong Kong-based pilots feeling disenchanted over salary cuts and wanting a better lifestyle.
Cathay Pacific to slash housing packages for pilots as part of ongoing cost-cutting drive
Last month, pilots at Cathay Pacific were told that they would face a salary freeze, pension changes and substantial cuts to housing allowances worth HK$1.2 million.
We have seen a spike in interest in recent weeks, numbering in the hundreds
“Until last month, very few Cathay Pacific pilots have inquired, or made applications to Chinese airlines. However we have seen a spike in interest in recent weeks, numbering in the hundreds,” said Deborah White, marketing manager for Longreach Aviation, which recruits pilots for Chinese airlines. It will host recruitment briefings for Hong Kong pilots at the end of the month.
Longreach Aviation said two of its clients – China Southern and Hainan – would need an estimated 100 foreign captains to meet demand for expansion each year until 2020.