I remember as a young FO with (if I remember correctly) around 5000 hours I applied to Cathay. To me it was the "premier" airline in the world to work for. I had travelled to Hong Kong several times with my parents and loved the place ( I still do)...and I really really wanted to work for Cathay. Alas..it was not to be ...the first interview knocked me out because I did not know what engines ( the then brand new 747-300) had..or something along those lines...I knew when I did not know the answers to questions like these, I would be going no further. But I figured...Cathay has the luxury of selecting the best...the best of the best...so if you dont meet the grade , you dont.
Even in the early 2000's as I overnighted in Hong Kong as a now B777 Captain, I still looked at Cathay aircraft and thought....I would love to work for this airline...
What the hell has happened????