‘Majority’ of Cathay Pacific pilots, flight attendants have opted for permanent pay cuts, Hong Kong’s flag carrier says

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A Cathay Pacific staff member walks by an aircraft bay with some of the carrier’s parked planes. Photo: Robert Ng

Published: 10:41pm, 29 Oct 2020Updated: 1:21am, 30 Oct 2020

A “majority” of Cathay Pacific pilots and flight attendants had opted for permanent pay cuts, the carrier said on Thursday, after the deadline for staff to sign up for “maximum” financial support to soften the blow dealt by Covid-19 to the sector.

The airline’s unions representing cabin crew said they respected the individual choices of members, while pilot representatives criticised the manner in which aircrew had been forced into pay cuts or job losses.

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) and flight attendants’ counterparts had sought to overturn a decision by the city’s flag carrier to overhaul pay and conditions, which came on top of 5,900 job cuts, and the closing of regional carrier Cathay Dragon.

Cathay pilots arriving at Hong Kong’s airport. Photo: Winson Wong

“We are very grateful that a majority of our pilots and cabin crew have already signed up to the new conditions of service,” the airline said, without specifying a number. “We would like each and every one of our pilots and cabin crew to join us and be part of Cathay Pacific’s future.”

Chris Beebe, general secretary of HKAOA, said if the airline’s comments were accurate, it would serve “as proof that bullying and intimidation” worked.