I don’t get why they are even offering this now? Why not just skip to redundancies?

Really? Because it might save some jobs! They could potentially make redundant people who could have been safe had they offered a voluntary redundancy package. It's an attractive option for those without PR if you go by the signs of what's going on and what HKA have done, you'd be silly to not consider this option ahead of a compulsory redundancy if you are on a work-permit!

Pistolpete47

The ones who keep complaining here about leaving are too hypocritical to actually leave. I don't have to mention names.

CX 'management' will be sat down planning this restructuring to the n'th degree. It's an opportunity of a lifetime for them to get rid of whoever they want, and with little or no comeback from the employee group. Seniority, in this instance, is gone. Debs and The Jellyfish can make up their own matrix and then fire and hire at will. Anyone on disciplinary will be gone first. Then 777 will go but probably not the trainers. Locals will be able to stay whatever fleet they are on. And - MOST IMPORTANTLY - if you have over 100k instagram followers you are safe.

I would take the VSS and run. I wouldn't even put COS21 out of the question.

Commiserations to all those involved. What does the redundancy package look like? Would be interesting to compare with flag carriers in Western Europe.

Exactly what happened at SQ, however the Singapore Government openly backed the airline and pulled out the cheque book. Singapore Incorporated recognises the importance of the airline to the city state and won't let it go under. Even though it is over reliant on premium long haul connecting traffic which will take longer to recover, adjustments have been made and the red ink can be sustained from the massive government reserves.

EK are in a fairly similar position and will probably come through after some significant and painful adjustments, which will likely include retiring a significant number of A380s and replacing them with something easier to fill, then going cap in hand to Abu Dhabi for another bail out.

Unfortunately CX doesn't fit into China's grand aviation strategy, being a largely foreign company operating from a recalcitrant city and seen as a relic of the colonial days. Greater Bay Airlines can start off on a reasonable footing with the B737 and gradually establish a long haul network in line with the recovery, they aren't sitting with a fleet of 150 widebodies incinerating cash while waiting for an improvement in the long haul, premium, transit market which probably won't happen for another 2 - 3 years. Start off as a low cost with routes that look like making money and ramp up to long haul full service as demand recovers. CX will probably survive but be sidelined in a smaller form and won't be the world airline it was pre COVID

Absolutely appropriate adjective.

Recall the stance and behavior from some of the employees during the pro-dem rallies.The die was cast even then.

Asia’s “World City” - lovely place, make it your permanent home :}

US sounds alarm over Hong Kong 'exit ban' fears
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compone...4-20210429.htm

CodyBlade

Management probably finds that adjective very fitting for us pilots as well.

Total thread drift but I thought it may be valuable to know for those considering staying in HK, the locals are abandoning ship. I'm in the UK, up north, in one of the bigger but not so famous towns... I had my house valued a few months ago and the valuer told me he was having a real problem as people from HK were coming in and buying up all of the houses in the area for cash and he can't reflect cash buyers in his valuation process so would have to undervalue the house compared to what we would likely sell it for. The reason? I live within catchment to one of the best non fee paying schools in the country. Caused me a pain as I was remortgaging to do some renovations... Anyway, found it interesting. Then this week I brought the kids to school and there were FOUR different families from HK whose kids were joining the school this week dropping their kids off. This is just one small school in a random town, I expect to see much more of it.

I would not be surprised to learn Swire have already agreed to sell all or a large part of their shareholding to Air China & therefore the CCP.
Somewhere in Pacific Place there is a fat lady singing, though it gives me little pleasure to hear her....

I can only wish Swire sells out and let another company run it. First to get fired should be that lying GMA, followed by all the Swire princes that do not care if this place burns today, as tomorrow they’ll be on a plane with their bonuses to a new senior position to make it the most toxic place to work

The VSS offer is cheaper for the company to shed staff than a compulsory redundancy due to loss of work permit. EO provides for payout based on 12mth average monthly earnings, VSS is specifically based on the basic monthly salary ONLY.
The offer wouldn’t be there if it cost CX more money and I am sure that they have a very good idea how the visa situation will be resolved by HKGOV.

Farman. I don’t believe that they have to pay you anything if you don’t get a work visa renewal.

Is the consensus that work permits will be cancelled or just not renewed?
What happens if your current permit takes you over 7 years?
Interesting times...

There are no grounds to cancel visas unless you are made redundant. If you’ve got over the 7 yrs then you are safe in that respect but it still doesn’t mean that you won’t be made redundant.
Some pilots have got Quality Migrant Visas which are for six years and they are also safe from the visa point of view. The company themselves have never suggested this as an option but a few people have done it after having heard about it from colleagues.

Thanks for the info

Farman Biplane

Definitely not true. The EO has a cap of 22,500 HKD per month for the calculation. I think all monthly salaries are above this. And whats more.. in the event of redundancy, the company can offset this towards the provident fund contributions they have already paid.. so basically you get made redundant with 0.

Jetdream

Not that they will be cancelled just no renewals and that any more involuntary redundancies are rumoured to be forced to come from work-permit holders (even if they aren't expired) first before anyone else can be made redundant. And obviously no new ones issued, why you see what's happening with the bases.

It is actually very make sense for the company to sack the Visa holder first, if the IMMD has made a decision not to renew the pilot visa. It could be 2-3 years from now for cathay to fully utilize all the pilot again, by that time most of the visa holder would have their visa expired. All the training cost in this 2-3 years will be wasted, and the pilot are being paid to sit at home for doing nothing.