Hong Kong Airlines - New/Relevant info
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Hong Kong Airlines - New/Relevant info
Hong Kong Airlines is doing quite a bit of upcoming hiring. I'm sure I am not the only one looking for some up-to-date relevant info. I've spent the last week reading through the many old threads. The current threads mostly contain people making fun of the management, safety standards, and telling everyone to STAY AWAY!
I hope there are some current or former employees with a more positive outlook. I'm coming from a 5 year regional FO background, so I would look forward to an increase in salary and the opportunity to receive a better type rating and experience a new part of the world. I'm single, so I wouldn't need more than a studio apartment.
I'll start with a few questions (A320 FO Position):
How is the schedule?
Do you do many overnights?
How are the hotels?
How often are you used on reserve days?
The contract says 8-9 days off a month. But it also says you fly 60-70 hours a month. So, there must be a lot of days you don't fly? Or do you just come into work to do a turn?
Thanks for any feedback.
I hope there are some current or former employees with a more positive outlook. I'm coming from a 5 year regional FO background, so I would look forward to an increase in salary and the opportunity to receive a better type rating and experience a new part of the world. I'm single, so I wouldn't need more than a studio apartment.
I'll start with a few questions (A320 FO Position):
How is the schedule?
Do you do many overnights?
How are the hotels?
How often are you used on reserve days?
The contract says 8-9 days off a month. But it also says you fly 60-70 hours a month. So, there must be a lot of days you don't fly? Or do you just come into work to do a turn?
Thanks for any feedback.
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Some real answers
kr575m and MD83FO,
How is the schedule?
Specific to A-320. Mixture of 1-3 day trips. Most of the flying is to Mainland China. There are some turns to Japan, Hanoi, and Bangkok. All of the overnights on the A-320 are in Mainland. Most departures are late morning or mid-afternoon. A-320 has 2 all night flights....1 to PEK and 1 to BKK. Typically a pilot will have 1-2 per month unless he is the rare breed who enjoys all night flights....he can request to do more. Schedule requests are due by the 10th of each month and rosters are published the 20th. There is no computerized bidding and seniority is not a factor in rosters. You make requests for what you like and Crew Control attempts to accommodate.
Do you do many overnights?
All of the overnights are what are called 3-0-3. So, fly 3 sectors on the first day, spend 2 nights in China and fly 3 sectors on the 3rd day. These trips are mixed with the 1 day turnarounds. Therefore, a line F/O would do approximately 5 of these per month equaling 10 nights per month on the road.
How are the hotels?
5 Star, Western brands such as Hilton or Intercontinental.
How often are you used on reserve days?
Rarely
The contract says 8-9 days off a month. But it also says you fly 60-70 hours a month. So, there must be a lot of days you don't fly? Or do you just come into work to do a turn?
The A-320 flying is very inefficient. The 3-0-3 patterns typically give you about 10-12 hours in 3 days. It is rare to get above the minimum CAD FTL day off requirement. You will have a mixture of flights and standby days. Referring to above, it's rare to fly on a standby day.
As for the previous threads about HKA and all of the negative sentiment on PPrune regarding HKA.....ignore. You're an adult and a professional. Interview...decide for yourself. If you based your decisions on what you read on PPrune, you wouldn't work for any airline, even CX. PPrune is not a place to come to find "this airline is great and all of the managers are awesome!".
I've attempted to give you answers without any "Kool-Aid" or biased negativism towards HKA.
Hope that helps.
How is the schedule?
Specific to A-320. Mixture of 1-3 day trips. Most of the flying is to Mainland China. There are some turns to Japan, Hanoi, and Bangkok. All of the overnights on the A-320 are in Mainland. Most departures are late morning or mid-afternoon. A-320 has 2 all night flights....1 to PEK and 1 to BKK. Typically a pilot will have 1-2 per month unless he is the rare breed who enjoys all night flights....he can request to do more. Schedule requests are due by the 10th of each month and rosters are published the 20th. There is no computerized bidding and seniority is not a factor in rosters. You make requests for what you like and Crew Control attempts to accommodate.
Do you do many overnights?
All of the overnights are what are called 3-0-3. So, fly 3 sectors on the first day, spend 2 nights in China and fly 3 sectors on the 3rd day. These trips are mixed with the 1 day turnarounds. Therefore, a line F/O would do approximately 5 of these per month equaling 10 nights per month on the road.
How are the hotels?
5 Star, Western brands such as Hilton or Intercontinental.
How often are you used on reserve days?
Rarely
The contract says 8-9 days off a month. But it also says you fly 60-70 hours a month. So, there must be a lot of days you don't fly? Or do you just come into work to do a turn?
The A-320 flying is very inefficient. The 3-0-3 patterns typically give you about 10-12 hours in 3 days. It is rare to get above the minimum CAD FTL day off requirement. You will have a mixture of flights and standby days. Referring to above, it's rare to fly on a standby day.
As for the previous threads about HKA and all of the negative sentiment on PPrune regarding HKA.....ignore. You're an adult and a professional. Interview...decide for yourself. If you based your decisions on what you read on PPrune, you wouldn't work for any airline, even CX. PPrune is not a place to come to find "this airline is great and all of the managers are awesome!".
I've attempted to give you answers without any "Kool-Aid" or biased negativism towards HKA.
Hope that helps.
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Hong Kong Airlines - New/Relevant info
Well done, Jeffkaw.
A mature reply is rare on this forum these days. Airlines are never going to please every lifestyle - like any job, you pick what suits your circumstances.
A mature reply is rare on this forum these days. Airlines are never going to please every lifestyle - like any job, you pick what suits your circumstances.
Our assistant fleet manager will only promote cathay dropouts in HKA on the A330
Is this true? If true then not good to go HKA.Join Date: Feb 2004
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Company run by assh#$es, con men, liars, corrupt and I could go on! Stay well away from them is my advice. Just as with Hong Kong Express, same poor standards run by a bald narssocist ozzy ****, a singaporean who talks **** and drunk 24/7 and Brazilian twats
I hear the new (2 months) GMF has resigned. Third one in 12 months.
Rumour is he had a run in with the company 'bully-boy' and quit.
This chap seems to be alienating everyone he meets. How can a FltOps Dept run under this kind of regime?
One things for sure - the IPO is dead in the water while there's a cap on aircraft numbers, and the CAD will not lift that cap while DFO's are continuing to resign like this. That's a huge and costly impact from just one man's poor attitude.
More pilot resignations can be expected after the CNY Bonus (or sooner if there is no bonus).
Rumour is he had a run in with the company 'bully-boy' and quit.
This chap seems to be alienating everyone he meets. How can a FltOps Dept run under this kind of regime?
One things for sure - the IPO is dead in the water while there's a cap on aircraft numbers, and the CAD will not lift that cap while DFO's are continuing to resign like this. That's a huge and costly impact from just one man's poor attitude.
More pilot resignations can be expected after the CNY Bonus (or sooner if there is no bonus).
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Just to offer another opinion....I worked for HKE for 5 years (would have left earlier but for family reasons) and although most of my pilot colleagues were good guys it is almost impossible not to be affected by the chronic incompetence/dishonesty of management. Whether it is command upgrades, getting annual leave, errors in your pay, roster disruption or constantly changing contractual terms and conditions, it is difficult not to become very frustrated and stressed working for HKE. I had friends at HKA and I know that it is even worse there! The huge turnover of staff and the CAD restrictions are evidence of this. I would recommend to stay clear of both airlines unless you are desperate and you plan to get the type rating and leave.