I'm surprised that you're surprised!

The Base closures were communicated by the GMA. Somebody called 'Deborah' apparently??? (No, me neither)

Best wishes, Deb. At that.

stevieboy330

If it was a layoff, it would be 6 months as per the contract. There is a side letter that says the severance has to negotiated, then mediated, then binding arbitration.

Can, Aus & NZ bases
 

Looks like that expensive #UnconciousBias & #Diversity training Merlin Swire shoved down ALL "Managers" and Senior Employees throats didn't take hold like it should have ???
Seems when "Senior" managers (beginning with your 3rd floor mates) needed to "pick" they singled out MOSTLY those from 3 countries with other "similar" traits we'll not mention and additionally being highly qualified and experienced...The textbook definition of CONSCIOUS BIAS !!!

To get around this overt conclusion with ZERO chance of being criticised for "Unconscious Bias", the pathetic CX management minions could have done what was contractually agreed... LIFO.. But that was too simple so they went the BIASED route - AS EXPECTED..

Do as I say, not do as I do.

Wasn't the term they coined to describe themselves, 'Senior Leadership'?

bellcrank88

Ah that's not what my letter says !

Having looked at the UK government website for the Job Retention Scheme, it looks like that CX will start negotiations at the end of June 2021 for whatever they are planning to do with Europe.
Until the end of June, the UK Gov is paying up to £2,500 per month per employee, reducing in July and further in August then the scheme ends in September.
Under UK Law, they have to negociate for 45 days.
I was unable to lookup the US scheme to compare.
So for LON and FRA, the end date is September, assuming they annouce something before the end of June. That's why DM stated "later in the year" for Europe.
Meanwhile here in HKG, JRC is a policy, and the Government will not give anymore money, hence the announcment of VSS which is less generous than ERS.

Hot ......
Just heard. London base to remain open.
Swire don’t want it closed.
However, some contract adjustments to be negotiated.

it is a rumor network
 

Great RUMOR, unsubstantiated and wishful, but great news

Not a Rumor Viking, but a bar garden talk stuff.
London is too valuable to close despite the UK Law pain to CX.
Remember when CX wanted to close London after the 49ers, and Swire paid UKHMRC’s bill?
This time, market forces dictate contract adjustment only.
Some will leave and take the redundancy, some will stay on the new terms.
Frankfurt will cease especially now the UK is not in the EU.
Thats life in this pandemic, I’m afraid.
God bless us all.

Swire still might have influence over the strategic direction of Cathay, but it doesn’t have complete control. Traditionally the independent directors have voted with the Swire directors including the Chairman to generally point the company in London’s preferred direction.

Given the political climate in Hong Kong it will be interesting to see if the independent directors now side with the Air China directors including the Vice Chairman, particularly with the two “non voting” government directors looking over their shoulders. Should that occur Swire don’t have the numbers to pursue any agenda.

FlyingNun

Why is London too valuable to close?

Closing the base will have no effect other than the flights being crewed from HK as they were before bases began.

What market force does London hold that no other base does?

Good question. Why is London base too valuable to Swire?
There maybe other effects or reasons that we’re not privy to, but, there you go.
Why is there a Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd registered in the UK? not the parent airline but a separate entity?
Why are there few “Swire” entities such as Swire Pacific?
We don’t know, but there’s always a reason behind headline news...

Latest inside info is;

All bases to close, except London. Bloody well done for the LHR freighter crew who managed to hang on to that one!

And they sit in their back gardens for the last year while we all went through hell and back! Never mind!

The 777 is dead. All bases and 75% of hkg 777 pilots gone. Cos18, no seniority.

777 dead. Take the VSS. Bases gone.

Swire Pacific is a Hong Kong based company that owns shares in various companies including a 45% share of Cathay Pacific.

John Swire & Sons is a London based company that owns shares in various companies including a 48% share of Swire Pacific.

This gives London a 21% share of Cathay Pacific. Certainly that buys them influence, but do they get to trump Beijing’s 30% share of the airline? How much say does London have in how a Hong Kong government bailout package is distributed?
I’m not disputing what may have been heard in London, just questioning how influential the participants are.

Hey Flying Clog, when did you put in your notice?

Pistol. Clog is either right or he is wrong. What he is personally doing is somewhat irrelevant.

Yes mm, and Clog is probably right In his estimates. The 777 fleet as a whole flew 600hrs last month. They are only using 3 or 4 airframes. There will be cuts to bus pilots too but not as drastic.