HK Express is gearing up for a larger future role for short haul china & SE asia ops out of hk. With KA diverting some of its A320 Neo’s to hke, we can all see the writing is on the ( lavatory) wall for KA.
HKE recruitment will chance their arm, and offer lower T&Cs than the incumbents, and that includes HKA, who were the poor pilots of hk.
In the current climate, I would expect that they will have an abundance of qualified crews applying, many from europe. This will continue for the foreseeable future, as the true effects of Covid19 are felt throughout the industry.
HKE are cash rich. They will survive and expand. They need crews. Better to earn than not. The real concern will be Cathay Dragon, with their antiquated crewing COS , that is high cost for lower productivity. They are stifled by unionisation, multi layered management and an ageing workforce.
It would be hilareous to see guys leaving ka to go to hke. Even mentioning this 2 years ago would be net with a what the f#$# are you talking about. The new normal?