What the f*ck did you think would happen, Richard?
Pilot exits may clip Cathay wings - The Standard
Pilot exits may clip Cathay wings
Cathay Pacific would likely be hard-pressed to keep up its expansion plan, with 13 of the 21 pilots hired in the past three months said to have resigned over employment conditions.
Phila Siu
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Cathay Pacific would likely be hard-pressed to keep up its expansion plan, with 13 of the 21 pilots hired in the past three months said to have resigned over employment conditions.
It is understood that many of them are expatriates who find Cathay's offer less attractive than those of other airlines.
It is also believed the airline has only hired about 20 pilots so far this year, excluding those who joined through its training program.
The Hong Kong flag carrier earlier announced plans to hire a total of 250 pilots.
A spokesman said he can neither confirm nor deny the resignation of 13 pilots, and did not respond when asked if it is an unusual situation.
"My colleague had a look at the documents and he said the figures do not look like they match. He said there should probably not be that many [resignations]," the spokesman said.
He said of 86 cadet pilots who joined the airline's training program in the past three months, 44 have been inducted.
Chairman Christopher Pratt said in March Cathay plans to hire 2,300 staff this year, including 250 pilots and 1,300 flight attendants.
Pratt also said the carrier will boost its fleet by another 27 new aircraft, after a record-breaking year in 2010 for net profit, turnover, passengers and cargo.
The supposed resignations, meanwhile, triggered a discussion among pilots in an aviation forum.
One user said 33 pilots have already resigned this year and a "sizable chunk" will quit around December, before the new tax year.
The user, understood to be an expat pilot, said Cathay has been reducing benefits to foreign hires.
The carrier discontinued the housing allowance paid to foreign pilots in April.
Another pilot said the airline is replacing foreign pilots with locals who are entitled to fewer benefits.