To the people who say bases are dead, whilst this is possible, it is unlikely.
Those of you employed by CX are able to view the seniority list to see the position on the list of based pilots.
It is not hard to work out, that the crew on a base are generally more senior, and were they to be based in HK, would cost the company significantly more, courtesy of various allowances such as: housing, travel, education etc.
CX are clearly trying to preserve cash.
They clearly know that crew on the bases are saving them plenty of money.
In the short term, having had the based pilots lead the pay cuts by example, I think they will then approach the hk pilots first, then cabin crew, and finally the ground staff.
My thoughts are it will be a mix of asking guys to retire (with possible decent $ incentives), more voluntary unpaid leave, and if insufficient pilots take it up, then standby for a one size fits all common COS20 with some grandfathering (time limited) for housing and HKPA reduced, or a simple 20% pay cut for those barely working, be prepared to be asked to accept a greater cut. Note the % cut the directors took. Unlikely to be greater - unless you were unlucky and were based in Aus!
With the pilots out of the way, and as many will see COS20 as a bridge too far and leave, numbers for a leaner crew compliment will fit the start up plan. Then the Cabin Crew will also be easy to reduce in numbers as they scramble over each other to keep a job by signing up for whatever cost saving deal is offered.
That just leaves the hardest of all - the groundstaff - but, having seen the worldwide based pilots, followed by hk pilots, then cabin crew suffer cuts, they'll know they have to toe the line and accept.
Should all be tied up and signed off in 4-6 weeks, just as a very slow recovery starts.
A new lean lower cost base cx will be well placed to make monstrous profits in 9-12 months time as aviation starts a slow steady resurgence.
Last edited by LongTimeInCX; 26th Apr 2020 at 17:22.