Cathay Pacific to cut 5,900 jobs, end Cathay Dragon brand due to pandemic . Key Points. decision to force pilots permanently onto lower-paid contracts or risk losing their jobs is "draconian" and "short-sighted", the head of the union representing them said on Friday. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The restructuring comes after months of debate and struggling demand which has seen revenue fall 98%. In a letter, Cathay Pacific sent a warning of the coming changes to its pilot group: The degree of pay cut depends on which older contract the pilot was on, with one Cathay pilot telling Reuters on condition of anonymity that he expected a reduction of about 40%. At Cathay, he said, the cuts are “completely open-ended and perpetual.”. The reduced deals were necessary for the airline to survive, Cathay Pacific has said. It is also seeking changes to contracts with pilots and cabin crew as part of a restructuring that would cost HK$2.2 billion (RM1.2 billion). Cathay Pacific to lay off overseas cabin crew, furlough pilots FILE PHOTO: A passenger walks to the First Class counter of Cathay Pacific Airways at Hong Kong Airport in Hong Kong, China Apr 4, 2018. “The arrogance of the company and the way they have approached this will be remembered for years to come.”. It is also seeking changes to contracts with pilots and cabin crew as part of a restructuring that would cost HK$2.2 billion ($284 million). The airline refused to comment. Nearly all Cathay Pacific pilots, majority of cabin crew sign new, cheaper contracts. Now, Cathay Pacific is looking at making even more significant changes to scale back its operations for the post-coronavirus world. The airline has told them if they do not agree to the new contracts by next week, they face termination, according to unions representing pilots and flight attendants. Grab the opportunity to start your flying career today! Cathay Pacific expat pilots find difficulty in obtaining work visas Share this news Cathay Pacific expat pilots are finding difficulty in obtaining and renewing Hong Kong work permits, after the airline suffered a great economic downturn reaching 5,300 staff layoffs earlier in October 2020. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd <0293.HK> said on Wednesday it welcomed all employee ideas to get it through the pandemic after pilots pushing to be included in restructuring talks ran a newspaper advertisement to drum up public support. HKAOA General Secretary Chris Beebe last week told Reuters the decision to force pilots on to lower-paid contracts was “draconian” and “short-sighted”. … One month after Cathay Pacific's layoff announcement, and closure of Cathay Dragon, the airline said it is considering hiring pilots and cabin crew again in 2021. Applications to the 55-week Cadet Pilot Programme are open year-round. Cathay Pacific did not want to respond to various speculations and rumours. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. The employees have until Nov. 4 to sign new contracts but they will receive one year of transitional benefits like housing allowances for pilots rather than the two years offered for those that signed up by Wednesday evening. In May 2020, Katrine and a team of nine other women cycled the punishing 200km of Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail on off-road ‘fatbikes’. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd's 0293.HK decision to force pilots permanently onto lower-paid contracts or risk losing their jobs is … Nearly all Cathay Dragon staff to go as part of airline’s 5,900 job cuts. “By imposing these things, without a doubt, it will erode goodwill,” Beebe said. [nL4N2HB51B]. The decision to close Cathay Dragon and ax around 6,000 employees follows a strategic review that began some time ago. Former Cathay Pacific pilot and Civic Party legislator Jeremy Tam Man-ho, says Cathay Pacific Airways should not have announced large-scale layoffs of staff in the name of restructuring and call it a commercial decision. Cathay Chairman Patrick Healy told reporters last week that the terms of the new contracts were “highly competitive” with those of global peers. These include more layoffs, reduced routes, and a reduced fleet. The massive layoff involves 700 pilots and 400 Cathay City employees, including half of the personnel and training departments. Off-roading in the Arctic for Climate Change. Cathay Pacific has seen demand and revenue plummet since March, … SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd's. 27th October 2020 – (Hong Kong) After Cathay Pacific’s large-scale layoffs, remaining employees have to sign new contracts which contain drastically cut salaries (up to 58%) and benefits. At rival Singapore Airlines Ltd SIAL.SI, pilots have agreed to pay cuts, including up to 28.5% for most captains and up to 18.5% for most first officers through March 31, 2022 to avoid more job losses. Book flights to Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok, Cebu, Vancouver and other destinations with Cathay Pacific. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. BOCOM International analyst Luya You said that the new contracts might see greater uptake than expected given the soft market for aviation professionals, but that there was a risk employees could leave when conditions improve. Cathay Pacific is considering a plan which would see pay cuts and redundancies in the coming months. Cathay Pacific has announced its intention to close its cabin crew bases in the US, putting nearly 300 employees out of work. Pilots at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd are pushing to be included in restructuring talks at the carrier and will run a newspaper advertisement to drum up public support, a union representing them told Reuters on Tuesday. But some Cathay Pacific pilots take themselves to extremes in their spare time – braving frost, heat and heights all in the name of causes close to their hearts. SYDNEY, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said on Thursday that a majority of pilots and flight attendants had signed new contracts that will result in permanent pay cuts. 22nd October 2020 – (Hong Kong) Cathay Pacific Airways has laid off thousands of employees and suspended Cathay Dragon Airways. Jeremy Tam is not pleased with massive layoffs by Cathay Pacific Airways. The labour union expressed dismay over the decision to restructure. It criticised Cathay Pacific for receiving capital injection from the government but still persisted with large-scale layoffs. Cathay Pacific’s specific layoff plan was posted online today (3rd), stating that Cathay Pacific will send dismissal letters to 400 Cathay Pacific employees and 700 pilots on the 5th of this month (next Monday), and plans to reserve all Cathay Pacific meeting rooms for use to facilitate the flight attendants to return their uniforms. The carrier on Wednesday announced plans to cut 5,900 jobs to help it weather the pandemic, including nearly all of the positions at its regional airline Cathay Dragon, which it has shut down. The announcement came as Cathay Pacific warned it would also seek changes in contract conditions with cabin crew and pilots as it looked to make further long term savings. That would enable it to target pilots for cuts based on the type of aircraft flown, which would be more efficient financially and operationally as it continues to review its fleet plans. Recently, a screenshot of Cathay Pacific’s WhatsApp short message of layoffs has also been circulating online. 55. week programme. On behalf of Cathay Pacific’s 2,200 pilots, Chris Beebe, Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers […] The airline did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Cathay Pacific Layoff Fears Increase As Rumors Circulate MIAMI – Cathay Pacific (CX) is suspending an arrangement allowing Crew members to swap flying duties, intensifying rumors that the airline will soon eliminate staff. The new contracts, similar to those for new hires since 2018, also offer pay based more on flying hours than previously, leading to far lower salaries in periods where the airline is largely idle. Staff at many airlines around the world including rival Singapore Airlines Ltd have agreed to temporary pay cuts to help their companies get through the COVID-19 crisis, but the Cathay reduction is permanent. You can also manage bookings and view your frequent flyer account online. MIAMI – Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) says its employment of foreign Pilots is under “greater scrutiny” from immigration authorities, and expats were facing difficulties obtaining and renewing work visas. The final plan could be approved by the board by this week as the Hong Kong flag carrier tries to stay airborne. Mit Cathay Pacific nonstop von Frankfurt nach Hong Kong und von dort zu mehr als 60 Reisezielen in Asien, Australien und Neuseeland. The 27,000 employees of Cathay Pacific Airway each have a tricky decision to make: Take three weeks’ voluntary unpaid leave between March and … Today’s edition of The Standard reports rumors that CX will soon terminate more than 1,500 flight attendants. Reporting by Jamie Freed; additional reporting by Anne Marie Roantree and Twinnie Siu in Hong Kong. There is also another opportunity to lay off 1,500 cabin attendants. Cathay Pacific was eyeing up to 8,000 layoffs to cut costs. In a major restructuring to help the company survive the Covid-19 pandemic, Cathay Pacific axed its Cathay Dragon regional subsidiary and laid off all 2,500 employees of the airline. The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) is facing a loss of relevance as its key agreements with Cathay expire next month, meaning … By joining Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot programme, you will receive sponsored training to become a pilot to operate regional, long haul and ultra long haul flights. Cathay last week announced plans to cut 5,900 jobs to help it weather the pandemic, including nearly all of the positions at its regional airline Cathay Dragon, which it has shut down. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd's decision to force pilots permanently onto lower-paid contracts or risk losing their jobs is "draconian" and "short-sighted", the head of the union representing them said on Friday. SYDNEY (Reuters) - Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd's 0293.HK decision to force pilots permanently onto lower-paid contracts or risk losing their jobs is "draconian" and "short-sighted", the head of the union representing them said on Friday. Hong Kong's flagship carrier is also terminating its subsidiary airline Cathay Dragon with immediate effect, as part of its HK$2.2billion restructuring plan. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. “We have plans to recruit new pilots. The carrier on Wednesday announced plans to cut 5,900 ($1 = 7.7500 Hong Kong dollars) (Reporting by Jamie Freed Editing by Keith Weir). Cathay Pacific Airways earlier stated that 600 of 3,000 head office jobs would be cut with no department spared except for frontline staff such as pilots and cabin crew. We aim to give you the best experience possible – but also wish to respect your privacy. It is also seeking changes in its contracts with pilots and cabin crew as part of a restructuring that would cost HK$2.2 billion ($283.87 million). Take First Officer Katrine Olsen. HONG KONG (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cathay Pacific’s layoffs may not be the last. Cathay last week announced plans to cut 5,900 jobs to help it weather the pandemic, including nearly all of the positions at its regional airline Cathay Dragon, which it has shut down. “We are very grateful that a majority of our pilots and cabin crew have already signed up to the new conditions of service,” the airline said in a statement. Some 98.5 per cent of Cathay Pacific pilots have signed new employment contracts, meaning dozens of cockpit crew have refused to accept the … Cathay Pacific will be operating at less than 25% of capacity for the first half of 2021, and under 50% of capacity for the rest of the year as a whole, Healy estimated. Pilots who do not sign the new contract will be terminated with three months’ pay rather than made redundant with six months’ pay, Beebe said, adding that the union was taking legal advice on the issue. “The vast majority (of other airlines’ pay cuts) are tied to a waypoint such as a point in time or profitability,” Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) General Secretary Chris Beebe said in an interview. 0. hours flying experience required . Published Tue, Oct 20 2020 8:05 PM EDT Updated Tue, Oct 20 2020 9:18 PM EDT. The pilot contracts, which are broadly in line with those given to new hires since 2018, will result in permanent salary reductions of up to 58%, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) said on Tuesday. Read more. Following weeks of layoff rumours, Cathay Pacific confirmed yesterday that it is cutting 8,500 job posts and axing 5,900 employees globally in the coming weeks. Staff at many airlines around the world have agreed to temporary pay cuts to help their companies get through the COVID-19 crisis. “We would like each and every one of our pilots and cabin crew to join us and be part of Cathay Pacific’s future.”. This came a day after layoff rumors started to circulate among flight attendants, with a screen capture on WhatsApp alleging Cathay will start laying off employees starting today. Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific said Thursday (5 November) that the majority of its pilots and cabin crew have opted to sign up to new contracts. HKAOA said under the new contracts, Cathay will no longer need to follow the principle of “last in, first out” used at most legacy carriers, with the most recent joiners losing their jobs first. Following legal advice, Cathay Pacific’s pilots union has informed its 2,200 Hong Kong-based members not to sign the new employment contracts offered by the airline amid mass layoffs, that will see pilots’ salaries and allowances slashed. Editing by Gerry Doyle. Cathay Pacific job cuts will hit Hong Kong housing market as axed pilots, cabin crew move away or downsize, say analysts Rents in locations such as Tung Chung and Tsing Yi, where a … Pilots are required to sign the new contract by tomorrow (28th). , pilots have agreed to pay cuts, including up to 28.5% for most captains and up to 18.5% for most first officers through March 31, 2022 to avoid more job losses. 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