HK Express
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HK Express
Hi guys
Just a couple of queries regarding HK Express especially in the world post COVID. I’m looking at applying for an A320 role and was wondering if anyone in the know could help out with a few questions.
-Does anyone know when recruitment and interviews are penciled in at this point in time? I understand that this is fluid and nothing is certain and subject to change at the moment. However if people have been told ‘No hiring for the rest of 2020’ for example, that would be a good gauge
-What is the contract term? Is it 12, 24, 36 months or open ended? Also is there a bond associated with it?
-As for rostering, I understand you can opt for 3 weeks on, 1 week off. Or 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off etc... is this correct?
Also any other info would be great and beneficial.
Cheers in advance
ZKSUJ
Just a couple of queries regarding HK Express especially in the world post COVID. I’m looking at applying for an A320 role and was wondering if anyone in the know could help out with a few questions.
-Does anyone know when recruitment and interviews are penciled in at this point in time? I understand that this is fluid and nothing is certain and subject to change at the moment. However if people have been told ‘No hiring for the rest of 2020’ for example, that would be a good gauge
-What is the contract term? Is it 12, 24, 36 months or open ended? Also is there a bond associated with it?
-As for rostering, I understand you can opt for 3 weeks on, 1 week off. Or 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off etc... is this correct?
Also any other info would be great and beneficial.
Cheers in advance
ZKSUJ
Join Date: Mar 2014
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I shall apologize in advance........
You cannot be serious? We are in the middle of Covid-19 and the industry has been decimated.
My guess is that recruitment will be on hold for quite a while and I mean years not months.
At the moment most pilots flying passenger jets are on a roster that is almost "permanently off".
Have a look at the pictures of all the parked jets at CLK.
I really cannot see that there will be any roles available for several years.
You cannot be serious? We are in the middle of Covid-19 and the industry has been decimated.
My guess is that recruitment will be on hold for quite a while and I mean years not months.
At the moment most pilots flying passenger jets are on a roster that is almost "permanently off".
Have a look at the pictures of all the parked jets at CLK.
I really cannot see that there will be any roles available for several years.
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Thanks guys,
Reason I'm inquiring is not because I am new nor am I inexperienced. I'm putting my feelers out there. Like many others I'm type rated with hours on the machine and have been made redundant form another carrier In a different part of the world due to COVID19.
I know the state of the world, but with the website still open to applications I figured no harm in asking what others know right? Yes I've seen the pictures, Yes I know the story. No I'm not applying for a job with only 300 hours. It's simply a query from a guy who is now out of work.
Reason I'm inquiring is not because I am new nor am I inexperienced. I'm putting my feelers out there. Like many others I'm type rated with hours on the machine and have been made redundant form another carrier In a different part of the world due to COVID19.
I know the state of the world, but with the website still open to applications I figured no harm in asking what others know right? Yes I've seen the pictures, Yes I know the story. No I'm not applying for a job with only 300 hours. It's simply a query from a guy who is now out of work.
Last edited by ZKSUJ; 6th May 2020 at 05:20.
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With the closing of SAA I believe that most sfos will go east...As Dragon Pacific said, most of the laid off will be picked up although doesnt hurt to inquire/apply. Hours dont necessarily always mean everything..
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Some of the comments above remind me why I stopped using PPrune years ago when I got into the airlines. Anyway, good luck to everyone and thanks to those who have helped
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ZKSUJ
The company line is that they are still recruiting but they have to obviously wait until borders open before they can fly guys in for an interview.
Expansion of HKE is still on the cards.
Don’t listen to those posts above, they are scared because their T&Cs are about to be ravaged and the money CX save will be used to expand HKE.
Also further to your first question, it’s a 3 year contract with a 1 year bond if you are type rated, 3 years if not.
3 on/1 off or 6 on/ 2 off, is only available to the guys at the very top of the seniority list but what will happen after the crisis has passed, anyone’s guess.
pm me if you got any questions.
The company line is that they are still recruiting but they have to obviously wait until borders open before they can fly guys in for an interview.
Expansion of HKE is still on the cards.
Don’t listen to those posts above, they are scared because their T&Cs are about to be ravaged and the money CX save will be used to expand HKE.
Also further to your first question, it’s a 3 year contract with a 1 year bond if you are type rated, 3 years if not.
3 on/1 off or 6 on/ 2 off, is only available to the guys at the very top of the seniority list but what will happen after the crisis has passed, anyone’s guess.
pm me if you got any questions.
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Longtimeincx asks a 100% valid question. Have you called them directly yet - surely word directly from the horses mouth is far better than soliciting second hand heresay? It would be interesting to hear what they say.
I think CX were still trying to work out how HKEX could ever turn a profitable dollar in a world of a vibrant LCC market to Japan. Now?
Last edited by Gnadenburg; 6th May 2020 at 20:07.
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Thanks everyone for the comments and answers. Much appreciated and some very helpful PMs as well.
No one aims to be out of work but as many are experiencing now its the reality for many. In which case you explore optiona you wouldnt have thought about only a few months ago.
Thanks again and I wish everyone well
No one aims to be out of work but as many are experiencing now its the reality for many. In which case you explore optiona you wouldnt have thought about only a few months ago.
Thanks again and I wish everyone well
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Also Cos18 has a far better MPF contribution than HKE.
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Interview Process:
1. Panel Interview with management pilots
2. Simulator Assessment
3. COMPASS Test
4. Medical Check
5. English Test
The simulator is done completely raw data. Expect to do V1 Cut, ILS Go around and other airwork such as intercepting a VOR Radial.
Salary
All salary is based on 50hrs guaranteed. If you fly more than 50hrs in the month you will be payed at an overtime hourly rate. On average expect to fly about 70hrs a month. The numbers quoted below is the total salary.
There is a relocation allowance.
First Officer
<1500hrs Jet = HK$53750
1500-3000hrs Jet = HK$68750
3000hrs+ Jet = HK$78750
Captain
<3000hrs Jet PIC = HK$106250
3000hrs+ Jet PIC = HK$116250
28 Days Annual Leave + Wrap around days off before and after you leave periods.
14 Days Sick Leave
Command Upgrades
HKE has always had a very active upgrade program. It was stopped due to the fleet change but has now started again this month. There are already a number of candidates selected for the coming months.Selection is based on seniority and you are required to be in the company for 12months and meet all flying experience requirements. Line captains are asked to submit their choices to training department as to who they think are suitable for promotion.
Lifestyle
Normally about 10 days off per month
3 Red eye flights per month
1 Overnight per month (Tokyo - may be removed during winter schedule)
The flying is good. The crews are very nice to work with. A good mixture from all around the world.
The company currently has 8 aircraft with the 9 by years end and many more coming next year.
The culture and standards of HKE is very different to Hong Kong Airlines. They are 2 separate companies.
1. Panel Interview with management pilots
2. Simulator Assessment
3. COMPASS Test
4. Medical Check
5. English Test
The simulator is done completely raw data. Expect to do V1 Cut, ILS Go around and other airwork such as intercepting a VOR Radial.
Salary
All salary is based on 50hrs guaranteed. If you fly more than 50hrs in the month you will be payed at an overtime hourly rate. On average expect to fly about 70hrs a month. The numbers quoted below is the total salary.
There is a relocation allowance.
First Officer
<1500hrs Jet = HK$53750
1500-3000hrs Jet = HK$68750
3000hrs+ Jet = HK$78750
Captain
<3000hrs Jet PIC = HK$106250
3000hrs+ Jet PIC = HK$116250
28 Days Annual Leave + Wrap around days off before and after you leave periods.
14 Days Sick Leave
Command Upgrades
HKE has always had a very active upgrade program. It was stopped due to the fleet change but has now started again this month. There are already a number of candidates selected for the coming months.Selection is based on seniority and you are required to be in the company for 12months and meet all flying experience requirements. Line captains are asked to submit their choices to training department as to who they think are suitable for promotion.
Lifestyle
Normally about 10 days off per month
3 Red eye flights per month
1 Overnight per month (Tokyo - may be removed during winter schedule)
The flying is good. The crews are very nice to work with. A good mixture from all around the world.
The company currently has 8 aircraft with the 9 by years end and many more coming next year.
The culture and standards of HKE is very different to Hong Kong Airlines. They are 2 separate companies.
Is it possible Hainan controls Pprune as well?
Anyone coming to Hong Kong, you should have read the posts from CX and KA boys&girls, so let me try to give you a briefing again.
HKExpress.
F/O with less than 1500 Jet Time: total package 56'250HKD/month
F/O with 1500<Jet Time<3000: total package 75'250HKD/month
F/O with more than 3000 Jet Time: total package 85'250HKD/month
Captain with less than 3000 Jet PIC: 114'000HKD/month
Captain with more than 3000 Jet PIC: 124'000HKD/month
That is up to 50hrs/month guaranteed.
From 50 to 60 hrs, F/O gets 500HKD/hour, Captain gets 800HKD/hour.
60 hours and above, F/O gets 650HKD/hour, Captain gets 1000HKD/hour.
3 levels of bonus, F/O average 60'000HKD/year, Captain 100'000HKD/year.
MPF 1500HKD/month (yes, one thousand five hundred dollars only) same for everyone.
No inflationary compensation, no increase whatsoever with the years of service. Loyalty is NOT rewarded.
28 days of Annual leave, take in blocks 8 days or more you get 4 days to travel.
No tickets back home. No Commuting. Annual Leave at the sole discretion of the GMF. Terrible most basic medical insurance by BoC. No school allowance.
F/O upgrades to Captains - 6 per year on average. Now there's 100 F/O in this company, do your math. The Director of Operations will even tell that nowhere have you signed to be upgraded to Captain.
Yes you can fly 100 hours/month and make a lot of money, but on average you can only fly 900hrs/year, so do your math on your average salary.
Cathay Dragon C-scale F/O year 1 compared to HKE Captain, having all the goodies in mind, makes only 10% less. And I haven't even started on Annual Leave.
Expenses in Hong Kong:
Housing: 25'000 - 40'000 (single or family) for anything decent.
Utilities: 4'000 - 5'000
Food: 10'000 - 20'000 (family or no family)
School: 8'000 - 13'000 (per kid, depending on the school and kids age)
Maid: 5'000 (and if you have a family you do need one in HK)
Tax: 15% if you're single, 10% if you have a family
Inflation: 4% per year
You still haven't gone out and had a beer with your friends, or paid the tickets back home.
If you're a single F/O and living modestly, or a single Captain just living OK, you could be saving some money. F/O on these terms will be struggling to get by, Captain on these terms will NOT be saving any money (or you could be saving zero anywhere else in the world, let's say your own country).
Anyone coming here will realise after a few months something is wrong.
Pilots have had enough. Turnover is 25%.
You do fly around 70 hours/month and you do it in 12 days, plus 4-5 standbys.
Everything else is below standard.
You have been warned.
Anyone coming to Hong Kong, you should have read the posts from CX and KA boys&girls, so let me try to give you a briefing again.
HKExpress.
F/O with less than 1500 Jet Time: total package 56'250HKD/month
F/O with 1500<Jet Time<3000: total package 75'250HKD/month
F/O with more than 3000 Jet Time: total package 85'250HKD/month
Captain with less than 3000 Jet PIC: 114'000HKD/month
Captain with more than 3000 Jet PIC: 124'000HKD/month
That is up to 50hrs/month guaranteed.
From 50 to 60 hrs, F/O gets 500HKD/hour, Captain gets 800HKD/hour.
60 hours and above, F/O gets 650HKD/hour, Captain gets 1000HKD/hour.
3 levels of bonus, F/O average 60'000HKD/year, Captain 100'000HKD/year.
MPF 1500HKD/month (yes, one thousand five hundred dollars only) same for everyone.
No inflationary compensation, no increase whatsoever with the years of service. Loyalty is NOT rewarded.
28 days of Annual leave, take in blocks 8 days or more you get 4 days to travel.
No tickets back home. No Commuting. Annual Leave at the sole discretion of the GMF. Terrible most basic medical insurance by BoC. No school allowance.
F/O upgrades to Captains - 6 per year on average. Now there's 100 F/O in this company, do your math. The Director of Operations will even tell that nowhere have you signed to be upgraded to Captain.
Yes you can fly 100 hours/month and make a lot of money, but on average you can only fly 900hrs/year, so do your math on your average salary.
Cathay Dragon C-scale F/O year 1 compared to HKE Captain, having all the goodies in mind, makes only 10% less. And I haven't even started on Annual Leave.
Expenses in Hong Kong:
Housing: 25'000 - 40'000 (single or family) for anything decent.
Utilities: 4'000 - 5'000
Food: 10'000 - 20'000 (family or no family)
School: 8'000 - 13'000 (per kid, depending on the school and kids age)
Maid: 5'000 (and if you have a family you do need one in HK)
Tax: 15% if you're single, 10% if you have a family
Inflation: 4% per year
You still haven't gone out and had a beer with your friends, or paid the tickets back home.
If you're a single F/O and living modestly, or a single Captain just living OK, you could be saving some money. F/O on these terms will be struggling to get by, Captain on these terms will NOT be saving any money (or you could be saving zero anywhere else in the world, let's say your own country).
Anyone coming here will realise after a few months something is wrong.
Pilots have had enough. Turnover is 25%.
You do fly around 70 hours/month and you do it in 12 days, plus 4-5 standbys.
Everything else is below standard.
You have been warned.
and how much is relocation allowance?
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I shall apologize in advance........
You cannot be serious? We are in the middle of Covid-19 and the industry has been decimated.
My guess is that recruitment will be on hold for quite a while and I mean years not months.
At the moment most pilots flying passenger jets are on a roster that is almost "permanently off".
Have a look at the pictures of all the parked jets at CLK.
I really cannot see that there will be any roles available for several years.
You cannot be serious? We are in the middle of Covid-19 and the industry has been decimated.
My guess is that recruitment will be on hold for quite a while and I mean years not months.
At the moment most pilots flying passenger jets are on a roster that is almost "permanently off".
Have a look at the pictures of all the parked jets at CLK.
I really cannot see that there will be any roles available for several years.