Roster is quite dense, some more senior are doing it. But they will get there requested days off.
Which as a junior you'll hardly see

Ever so slowly, senior First Officers at Cathay Dragon, are rationalising the corporate direction ( or lack of for KA ) and the stark circumstances of what does a contracting airline mean for command promotion? The reality unfolding seems to be there may never again be command opportunities at KA for many. Some bang-on about slowing down to more "normal" promotion time frames but there is nothing in the picture that indicates there will be any short, medium or long term promotion. It's dark times !

Now, a few weeks ago, we were told there would be NO recruiting for the forseeable future at Cathay Dragon. Yet here we are on a wannabee thread and the blinded are still talking of time to command !

New joiners to KA are cheap and disposable seat-fillers. Recent joiners will never obtain command in the current direction. Read again- NEVER obtain a command ! Their new role is to minimise lucrative overtime payments to Local Contact and B scale First Officers.

For the most senior F/O's, the glimmer of hope for command promotion was huge uptake of part time schemes by incumbent B Scale Capt's. Now there's conflicting gossip from the line and management, but the line suggests uptake for the new and adulterated RRO scheme is poor. So again, nothing suggesting commands next year will eventuate.

Quite right Gnadenburg. As far as commands go at KA, they are few and far between. The airline is shrinking and in the next 3 years will be 2/3rds the size. As for commands, 22 planned next year but as we all know that number is just touted to keep the more senior FO's interested. It will probably be more like half that number and that's optimistic. If you come here on COS18 and are expecting a command, you will be extremely disappointed. KA will cease to exists beyond 5 years me thinks and COS18 pilots are just as Gnadenburg points out, seat fillers who are cheap and disposable ( more so than the rest of us ). RRO is only open to officers with at least 10 years in rank and therefore any illusion of getting it as a COS18 pilot is a pipe dream.

So for the passenger "experience", HK will be left with HK Express for shorthaul and regional? Cathay Paciic for longhaul and Tokyo & Singapore? And as a competitor, a HK Airlines, flying to Shanghai, Beijing, and Taipei only? I am afraid it's probably true, and sooner than we think.

Pilot group merger
 

They will try to submerge KA into any of the other Cathay brands, when they can. Problem I guess is the landing rights we have in China (which aren't transferable).
So when they find a way around it, they most likely dissolves KA brand in either Cathay's or HKE (low cost).

At the moment most A330 from Cathay are coming to Dragon. We received about 10 of them.
Getting ride of all the old(er) A330 and bring in the (not so old ones from) Cathay A330.

As Cathay is getting their A350 delivered more and more, A330 will be transferred to KA (as replacement) or being send back to the leasing company

THIS is well said. IF you’re a reasonably young single and have no monetary obligations, other than a student loan for flight school etc., Hong Kong can be a blast for a couple of years. Just look at this job as similar to any other type of first flying job in the outback or Africa, only on big boring heavy jets instead of C206s and Caravans. Do sports, go hiking, go play in Wanchai or the clubs, take it as an experience for YOU - don’t worry about the company, they don’t worry about you a single bit. Always plan on leaving within 2-4 years with your type rating and time on type. Cathay Dragon is a dead horse and HK has rapidly lost its sex appeal over the last decade and just look now! I´ve had an awesome time as a single guy in my early thirties, but I also called in sick whenever going to work wasn’t appealing. If you´ve done you homework you’d know by now that taking this clown company serious is not the way to go - then you’re the clown.

On the other hand, IF you’re with a family and dependent children, you’re making a mistake by joining this operation. Hong Kong pollution and the cost of living will make you regret the decision forever. There is nothing good to say about this company.

" but I also called in sick whenever going to work wasn’t appealing."

So one of my colleagues can get stuck with the pattern that I was employed and paid to do. Fark my collleagues - I'm only here for me.

Arsehole

In the good old days Trevor we'd phone the standby pilot before ringing in sick so he had the ability to avoid the ensuing callout. There was a certain level of decency about it, apparently now lost.

How does this theory pan out with all the Chinese demerit points of one airline within the group and a clean slate with the other?

You'd almost think our green tie collegaues have rat-cunning in avoiding the middle kingdom.

Whats the overall morale like with the flight crew?

I think most will be more interested in your morale?

Say, when you are called out to do sim duty in support, full license jeopardy, and your contract says you aren't paid for it.