Hammer of THOR

[Flex88]

And here we go.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/2155737/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-sends-high-flying-manager

Funny how these things happen; literally on the same day we get a flyer from newly anointed DFO a SCMP article re CEO is dropping a new "High Flyer" Swire muppet into position to mop up the tainted sloppy disgraceful mess that the last 3 (highly overpaid) DFO's have left in their wake.
I would have thought that task "should" fall on said newly anointed DFO however ask anyone who knows this persons history and they're acutely aware he does not have the stones to sort out even the smallest of controversial issues let alone this big bad monster therefore big daddy sends in a fixer. Sounds like an episode of the Sopranos.
We are lucky though, the SCMP notes this fixer is "well liked" and has a history of "getting the Jobe done".. Sounds like we're going to enjoy this yes?

Watch this space.....

[Loopdeloop]

I'll not be holding my breath

[mngmt mole]

I hear from a little bird that he thinks he is going to mop up 3500+ p*ssed off pilots. Figures himself an “enforcer”. I guess he will have to learn the hard way. Pilots have options and they arent going to be intimidated or coerced. He would be better off spending his time productively and start concocting a new COS that has pay rises, housing increases, commuting rosters and bases. Otherwise he will soon find himself a general without troops. Another little bird (who has recently flown the coop) is about to hire at least 400 of us. Never mind all the other desperate airlines in the world crying out for pilots.

[Flex88]

Attached pdf file.
Read this and digest thoroughly before anyone signs and/or negotiates wage or benefit contracts. Take a long term view - it's just beginning and this article references 1 country only !!

How far into the future do "Thor's" contract terms continue 5, 10, 15 years ? Do they include HARD inflation clauses ??

[Freehills]

He has good hair. Senior management hair. It will look good in photos for various in house publications

[oriental flyer]

A very interesting article , airlines like Emirates have huge amounts of money , in the past they used to shake a tree and pilots would be falling over themselves to join . How things have changed , Emirates ,& Cathay are bleeding pilots at an alarming rate which is getting larger every month . Emirates can solve their pilot shortage by paying enough to attract new pilots . Cathay think they can solve their pilot shortage by intimidating pilots ,& cutting COS .
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that policy will no longer work , most of the pilots just don’t care anymore , they go to work to get a salary, enthusiasm for the job has been sucked out of the crew by an inept management .
The same could be said for the Cabin Crew who are the main interface between the company and the passengers.
What management trying to maximise profits would stiff their frontline staff . In the old days if I was late I would do everything to ensure the passengers were kept updated and if sufficient time was available give them drinks .
Now I no longer care , if we are late we are late . It’s Not my problem . Trying to save fuel not interested , discretion not interested. The list goes on and on
so for the incoming fixer the answer is simple . Have open discussions and expect to make changes to rosters ,COS , and include a substantial pay rise . If not the hemorrhaging will continue as more and more pilots leave.
as for the commment in the SCMP that the company has been losing money since 2016 could you please explain why it’s almost impossible to get on an aircraft using rebate travel , meaning most of the tickets are full fare . Yet you still claim to be losing money . A good one liner for the article but I don’t buy it . Henny Penny the sky has been falling since 1998 . Oddly it hasn’t .

[SOPS]

Oriental Flyer... understand one thing. EK has also been cutting COS for years, roster are horrendous and there has been no meaningful pay rise for years. CX and EK are following exactly the same path.

[Apple Tree Yard]

And that is why Emirates is parking aircraft, and desperately trying to retain what pilots they have left. As with CX, only money, lifestyle and respect will turn things around.

[Bo Wing]

I remember a previous GMA who staked his career on getting “the f*$@ing pilots to tow the line”, he even shut the CDG base with scant regard for the pilots on that base and look how well that turned out for him. Apart from remuneration; dignity, respect and recognition is all most employees want (and deserve) from their employers.

[Apple Tree Yard]

A friend of mine just hit the 30yr mark at CX a few weeks ago. Not a single bit of recognition from the company. Not even an email from the DFO or Fleet Manager. A small point perhaps, but very telling nonetheless. There is NO respect in our management for the aircrew. Not a drop. Remember that when they try to coerce you into the next contract, with their vague and easily broken promises that will be worth less than the paper they are printed on. The only thing this management will take note of is parked aircraft.

[Hamburger]

A friend of mine just hit the 30yr mark at CX a few weeks ago. Not a single bit of recognition from the company. Not even an email from the DFO or Fleet Manager. A small point perhaps, but very telling nonetheless. There is NO respect in our management for the aircrew. Not a drop. Remember that when they try to coerce you into the next contract, with their vague and easily broken promises that will be worth less than the paper they are printed on. The only thing this management will take note of is parked aircraft.

Absolutely disgraceful but it is no surprise given he is an A-scaler. The roller coaster ride of this airline's industrial relations has been going on for decades so what makes you think things will change for the better now?

[Apple Tree Yard]

I don't think things will change for the better. I think they will completely collapse in a heap. That is why I recommend to anyone under the age of 45, seek sanctuary with a better employer while you can. Anyone who stays will bring ruin to themselves and their families. Guaranteed. The CX :mad:show is only headed in one direction. To oblivion.

[Scoreboard]

Ok yeah lets get you have pay cuts...housing cuts benefits cut provident funds cut....yeah good job when the crappy airlines that one would never consider elsewhere are jacking pay upwards of Cathay. Yeah go ahead force any cuts thru and race out of here will accelerate....and you will be parking jets and losing hulls....

[Flex88]

Ok yeah lets get you have pay cuts...housing cuts benefits cut provident funds cut....yeah good job when the crappy airlines that one would never consider elsewhere are jacking pay upwards of Cathay. Yeah go ahead force any cuts thru and race out of here will accelerate....and you will be parking jets and losing hulls....

How were those beers Scoreboard ??? One to many maybe ?

[Loopdeloop]

Enforcer 😂. That tried & tested approach always works well with an intelligent & experienced workforce!

[Apple Tree Yard]

So, in the Jellyfishes first week, we've had a letter praising Anna, and now this new sickness policy. Does anyone left in this airline have ANY illusion as to what your career will be like if you stay. This is the result of working for a lawless, reckless and immoral employer. It WILL only get worse. If you can find a position at an airline back home, that is subject to the rule of law, who has managers who aren't spawn of the devil, and who treat their employees with fairness and reasonableness, then don't hesitate to make the move. Only misery and ruin await anyone who stays with this collapsing joke of an airline.

[cxorcist]

...collapsing joke of an airline.

Never have truer words been spoken. It has become a sick joke. Unfortunately, the joke is on us who have our financial health married to this Company. I’m sad that I chose so poorly and wasted many many years being a clown in this circus. CX is a facade. There is no there there. It’s a scheme in the most venal sense of the word. It’s a hollow shell with no life inside. Buyers beware!

[mngmt mole]

My FO on a flight this week said the latest amendment to the sickness policy is the proverbial straw. He has a pending job offer and is accepting it. And this is someone who has an asian wife, and SHE was the one who insisted they leave. Fact.

[Trafalgar]

From my perch thousands of miles away, while I recuperate from an operation, it seems that CX is almost like a novel of fiction: it mostly seems fantastic and made up (and by fantastic, I don't mean in a good way). I was just made aware of the latest change to the HK sickness policy (funny how they can't seem to manage the same outrage in the bases). It is plainly evident that this is a reaction to a catastrophic rate of sickness throughout the airline. In typical CX fashion, instead of addressing the real reasons for the level of sickness, they are attempting to impose even more draconian and intimidatory policies (doomed to failure, as they are completely unworkable). All this does is illuminate and emphasize that our management are bereft of real management abilities. They can't admit they have caused this problem, are helping it intensify, and that there is not a single senior manager who can stand up and say "enough, we need to fix the root of the problem and stop blaming the pilots".

This airline is broken. It is now seemingly beyond repair (IMHO). As the AOA has exquisitely pointed out, the previous TA was offered when the hedging losses were ramping up, and our economic numbers were heading down. Now, when both those negatives are trending positive, at the very least the previous TA should be the BASELINE for further increases in any new TA offered. If that is not forthcoming, then we all need to tighten the screws even further. There is NO going back now. It is do or die for every pilots career hopes, and only a significant improvement to ALL areas of our package will suffice. If not, then there is NO reason to stay with CX a day further, as you will surely and inexorably lose any long term value your career efforts deserve.

CX management are obviously incapable of common sense. Anyone who possessed such a trait would have never imposed this change to the sickness policy, especially when there are literally hundreds of pilots on the knife-edge of leaving for new employers. This will surely push many more to make that move. Not a single day seems to go by in this airline where our managers never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. They are adamant that they will retain their "right to manage", even though eventually they will be managing nothing, as there will be no one left to manage.

CX now seems beyond hope. Every chance they have to turn things around, they seem to double down on insanity. This latest policy change is more evidence of that. As an example, I am back in London on long term sickness. When the problem first occurred, it took me four days to obtain a Dr. visit. How exactly am I supposed to comply with their new edict? Foolishness, arrogance and stupidity all combined in one management structure. Leave now while you can still obtain a position at an airline that will provide a stable foundation for your career. You only have one. Traf.

[DropKnee]

CX wants a doctors note in a day. The ER is the place for you. CX insurance rates will skyrocket.
Stupid is what stupid does.

[Rascasse]

Do what I just did. Tried to book an appointment on Friday. First available, Wednesday of next week. Instead of missing a regional trip that I was due back in HK to operate, I am now not even leaving the overseas port I'm in for probably another 4-5 days. I only originally planned on missing the regional. Now, I will miss a long-haul as well. Not intentional, but the policy has left me with no choice but to stick it out here until i've actually seen a Dr. Another own goal. Well done CX management. Another week at home, such a pity.