Hainan Airlines
 

I have noticed the banner on here advertising Hainan Airlines based anywhere they fly into and 305K net a year. I’m a UK based A320 skipper with a family and this seems almost too good to be true. I have researched on here Chinese airlines and culture (one potential stopper for me is I don’t think I could stand cigarette smoke in the flight deck if this still goes on?) and looked st the very limited info on Hainan. Can anybody advise me the latest please?

You are well informed on the smoke in cockpit. Well if it bothers you..forget about chinese airlines.

You will potentially suck up some 2nd hand smoke while flying with an instructor during your initial qualification and annual checks. But the FOs don't smoke if they knew you don't smoke. That said, there is supposedly such a thing as 3rd hand smoke, meaning all the nicotine particles being stored in the fabrics etc and re-released into the air (think cockpit, car rides, and hotel rooms). The $300K USD net is true though.

The commuting are 8 days off per month and 11 days off per month. 4 weeks on 4 weeks off has been suspended now.

Looks like more evidence all is not well at HNA...

https://www.ft.com/content/bcedf80c-...d-73e3d454535d

For UK residents working in China; you can offset the tax paid in China, but will still have a 30+% liability for HMRC.

I presume this only applies for those on a commuting contract and staying more than 90 nights in the UK?
If you aren't and are paying tax at source of employment I'm led to believe that no tax is due in the UK

I think that supports what I said albeit far more eloquently!
If declaring China as residency for a 3 yr contract, tax is paid, you notify HMRC that you are no longer a UK tax resident and prove so via the new test system then there is no tax payable to HMRC on your return.

You have to remember that to qualify for non residence tax status you have to be out of the UK for the whole tax year apart from your 180 days allowance. If you go or come back within the tax year you are liable for that year's taxes.

Dual Taxation Agreement
 

As I understand it, UK and PRC have a dual taxation agreement in place. Assuming your employer in China pays ALL your taxes, as they promise to, and a certificate is issued to that effect, you will not be liable to UK tax on your Chinese salary even as a UK resident.

Think carefully before joining Hainan due to their current financial problems. Rumours of some agencies not being able to pay their pilots, Airbus stopping further deliveries as well. Hopefully they are "too big to fail" and it gets sorted out.

China Southern may be a better option at the moment.

Of course anyone should make their own research, but the current news regarding the above stated financial troubles relate to HNA Group and not Hainan Airlines. The two are currently underway to be financially disentangled. Agencies not paying their pilots is because said agencies are not managing their financials properly. Hainan Airlines has in the past (twice I believe) delayed their salary payments by up to 10 days; but again that did not affect me. I have been paid by my agency each and every month on the first of the month. Also Hainan starts taking delivery of a new 787 next week and will receive more every 21 days until the end of the year.

I'm not saying that working in China or for Hainan Airlines specifically is without risk, but IMHO it's worth it and you're getting rewarded for it handsomely. Picking a reputable Agency and sufficient LoL Insurance etc are a very important part of that.

Regarding smoking on the flight deck - the next revision of CCAR 121 will ban smoking. Some Chinese airlines already have due to a recent incident.