The company's most experienced pilots have resigned in record numbers, leaving Cathay Pacific Airways ill-equipped to fully resume operations and unable to satisfy soaring demand, according to the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA).
Unprecedented staffing and training shortfalls at the airline will keep airfares high and prevent Hong Kong from resuming its position as a major international aviation hub.
On Thursday, Cathay did not immediately react to a request for comment despite having previously stated that it planned to add 4,000 more employees over the next 18 to 24 months as travel picks up. Following the relaxation of crew quarantine regulations, the airline announced last month that it anticipated exceeding its prior projection of a quarter by year's end and reaching a third of pre-pandemic passenger capacity.
In contrast, rival Singapore Airlines anticipates reaching 81% of its 2019 capacity levels by then. According to Cathay, expanding capacity was a gradual process because it required intensive crew training and the reactivation of aircraft that had been in storage. According to OAG data, capacity at Hong Kong Airport this week is 81% lower than it was in 2019 compared to a loss of 38% in Singapore and a decline of 22% in Sydney.
After eliminating thousands of positions due to the pandemic, the company had 20,800 employees worldwide as of June 30, down from 34,200 at the end of 2019. Given its proximity to mainland China, John Grant, chief analyst at travel data company OAG, stated during a webinar on Wednesday that Hong Kong was likely to eventually regain its reputation as a global aviation hub, but the process would take time.
After more than two years of strict quarantine regulations paired with permanent salary cuts of up to 58%, pilot turnover at Cathay has been higher than usual. The COVID-19 limitations had to be adhered to by the Cathay crew on layovers abroad until the global financial hub loosened them on Tuesday. They must still wear masks during layovers, with the exception of when eating and drinking, and they must stay away from busy areas and large gatherings like bars.
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (CPA), more widely known as Cathay Pacific, is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with Hong Kong International Airport serving as both its headquarters and primary hub. The airline's operations and subsidiaries offer regular passenger and cargo flights to more than 190 locations throughout the world, as well as codesharing and joint ventures in more than 60 countries.
