Cathay Pacific cabin crew union demands 6 per cent pay rise, or warns of possible action over Christmas

Travellers could face a Christmas of misery as Cathay Pacific's cabin crew union said it will consider industrial action that will cause mayhem unless they get a pay rise of 6 per cent next year.

The 7,200-member Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union, representing about 80 per cent of the airline's flight attendants, will meet airline management on Monday to present the demand, plus other matters concerning crew members' welfare.

Union vice-chairman Julian Yau Chi-hung said a 6 per cent rise was reasonable, given the airline's healthy financial situation. He said the airline needed to give an increase to offset inflation in the coming year, which is expected to be 3 to 4 per cent.

"In the past few years we have always asked for a raise of 7 to 8 per cent. This time we want to show sincerity by demanding a raise we consider to be very reasonable," Yau said.

He said negotiations were expected to last two weeks.

Yau refused to reveal what action the union was considering, or when it would take place. He would only say that the union would give Cathay passengers enough time to adjust their travel plans if the union needed to press ahead with industrial action.