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Hong Kong third wave: UPS pilots demand right to refuse to fly to city, days after FedEx Express crew call for suspension of all flights
- Union representing global freight carrier’s aircrew calls for routes to be staffed by volunteers
- Two sides already have an ‘opt in’ agreement in place for flights to mainland China
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Pilots for logistics giant UPS want the right to refuse to fly to Hong Kong, further threatening to undermine the world’s biggest air cargo hub, days after FedEx Express aircrew called for the suspension of flights to the city.
The Independent Pilots Association (IPA), which represents the global freight carrier’s cockpit crew, wants the US company to only use volunteer staff to fly to Hong Kong, which is battling a surge in Covid-19 infections.
There is already an agreement with the airline covering flights to mainland China, which has been in place since February.
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On Wednesday, FedEx pilots called on the company to halt Hong Kong flights, which they said posed an “unacceptable risk”. Their anger stemmed from the forced hospitalisation, and poor quarantine conditions, three company pilots were subjected to after testing positive for the virus on arrival in the city.
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Hong Kong battles third wave of coronavirus infections
Hong Kong battles third wave of coronavirus infections
The IPA said its agreement with UPS, or United Parcel Service, allowed pilots and its members to “opt into” and volunteer to operate mainland China flights and the association wanted to extend it to Hong Kong.
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