ExclusiveCathay Pacific can cut schedules until March 2021, aviation bosses say, as they relax ‘use it or lose it rule’ for airlines on runway slots

Civil Aviation Department in Hong Kong extends waiver for winter 2020

Policy is a global requirement that incumbent airlines operate at least 80 per cent of runway slots per flight scheduling season

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Cathay Pacific has been granted permission to keep a reduced schedule as it battles the economic fallout of the coronavirus and a collapse in world travel. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:51pm, 7 Aug 2020Updated: 11:48pm, 7 Aug 2020

Cathay Pacific and other airlines battling a collapse in travel because of the coronavirus pandemic can keep cutting flight schedules in and out of Hong Kong until March 2021, without losing lucrative airport runway slots.

Hong Kong’s civil aviation regulator said on Friday that with borders closed and so few people willing to travel, it had extended a waiver that avoids airlines being punished for not operating flights.

The global airline industry was granted an initial six-month waiver worldwide that started in March this year, as the virus swept across the world.

A further six-month extension was sought in recent weeks as it became clear few carriers would be able to operate a full schedule for years to come.

The Civil Aviation Department has been monitoring airlines at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Felix Wong

The Hong Kong Schedule Coordination Office of the Civil Aviation Department said it had been monitoring airlines making full use of runway slots at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) amid the impact of Covid-19.