albeit true... in about 50 years maybe
there is currently no Airbus or Boeing aircraft in development that is fully automated or even (like a tesla) if an aircraft was being designed currently I'd say sure 5-10 years before rollout and testing, then another few years of that. New aircraft take decades to design, build, test etc.
So the current "Adelaide" gang, they will most likely retire in the left seat decades from now having flown plenty..
The only thing Boeing, Airbus and the likes are currently obsessed with is the woke agenda and saving emissions by going as green as they can, automation is way down the line.
With regards to salaries, they will return to previous levels in a few years time, China has been incredibly slow to get away from Covid so their financial damage is immense, once that has sorted out then things will again pick up. The Chinese (that is HK included) are painfully paranoid about Covid so don't hold your breath in 1-2 years. This will take a long time to get all those pax and cargo numbers back up but it will happen, their hands are tied from their own paranoia.. just be patient. Or maybe they'll just sell Cathay to China Airlines and we'll all get new uniforms and a new paint scheme