"...the latest HKA recruits, whom by large come from South-east Asia
CAN'T FLY TO SAVE THEMSELVES.."
Mate, you can't go on generalising a particular race or nationality just cos a couple of asians didn't meet the required standards; the onus is on the trainer to bring the bloke up to specs; that's the sole reason for airlines to appoint in-house trainers. Very often, trainers forget their role. Ready to write off a trainable pilot (well, perhaps with extra training) all too soon. Personal prejudices/preferences doesn't help. If someone should fail a course or training, then it is the trainer that has failed.
"...If the two airlines are losing more than HKD$20 mil per month now, wait till they start operating widebodies (if it ever does happen, personally I think that there is a better chance that the Dalai Lama will be guest of honour at the Beijing Olympics).... "
HKA/HKE is just a cost center to the Hainan Group, as long as the Group makes an overall profit; it doesn't matter whch of it's airlines in the Group is making a loss. Besides, what is HKD$20mil a mth compared to the USD$20mil in savings for each aircraft bought through HKA/HKE for the Group?
You'd soon find out that to survive and last out the fuel crisis, you'd need to keep operating (staff and fuel) costs down. CX/KA are already feeling the fuel pinch, whereas fuel for chinese carriers are still very much subsidised even with the recent subsidy cuts. So, when HKA/HKE actually folds like Oasis; and it's gonna be a long wait; wake me up!! * looooong yaaaaawn*
