Exclusive | Cathay Pacific’s foreign pilots struggle to get Hong Kong work permits after hundreds of locals lost jobs in restructuring
- Airline made 5,300 people redundant in the city in October as part of cost-cutting measures
- Work permits are issued according to strict criteria, including that a vacant role cannot be ‘taken up by the local workforce’
Aviation insiders said the struggles for pilots in obtaining or renewing work permits to fly for the airline was leaving their jobs in limbo, and risked hampering Cathay’s operations, especially with freighter pilots being hired in preparation to move coronavirus vaccines around the world.
They also warned that by creating hurdles for expat pilots, officials risked hurting the city’s economy, and going against their promise of cherishing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub.
Work visas are issued under strict criteria, including that a job could not be performed by a Hongkonger. The issues pilots faced were not thought to be linked to the current political climate.
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In a memo to pilots last week, Chris Kempis, Cathay’s director of flight operations, said the carrier was aware that the “Immigration Department is reviewing renewals with greater scrutiny”.
