Will Cathay’s latest pay formula for pilots get morale off the ground at Hong Kong flag carrier?

Pilots’ productivity pay will be calculated based on either hours they are rostered or actual hours they fly, whichever is higher

Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, which represents Cathay’s pilots, says changes will have ‘very little effect’ on what pilots earn

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Cathay Pacific has changed how it will calculate pilots’ pay. Photo: May Tse

Published: 2:52pm, 16 Jun 2023Updated: 8:19pm, 16 Jun 2023

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has revealed a change in the pay mechanism for pilots in its latest bid to boost staff morale and address an issue of slow aircraft taxiing attributed to unhappy cockpit crew.

The carrier announced on Friday that pilots’ productivity pay would be calculated on either the hours they were rostered, known as their “published block hours”, or the actual hours they flew – whichever was higher. The change would take effect in October.

Director of flight operations Captain Chris Kempis said the change would bring more certainty to pilots’ pay and showed the airline was listening to staff concerns.

“We will continue to review the competitiveness of our pilot remuneration and benefits, and make changes where suitable and sustainable,” he said.

A Cathay spokeswoman said details of the scheme would be reviewed and refined after six months.

Cathay Pacific appears to be addressing staff concerns and trying to improve staff morale. Photo: Sam Tsang

In April, the city’s largest carrier warned against slow taxiing of aircraft, which its pilots were allegedly doing to clock extra time and collect more pay. Authorities accused them of contributing to congestion at Hong Kong’s airport.