oneworld

Pilots at Cathay Pacific Airways voted in favour of raising funds as a buffer against any actions the Hong Kong airline may take against them, such as unilateral benefit changes or job losses, their union said Friday. The move underscores persistent pilot discontent at Cathay, where anger and distrust has deepened, 5 pilots said on condition of anonymity. Eager to trim costs, the loss-making airline had also sought to cut payment of housing allowances but this month extended the stipend ahead of a busy holiday travel period and amid poaching attempts by its rivals. More than 82% of union members voted in favour of resolutions including raising funds to prepare for any industrial escalation. The union said, however, that there were no plans to take any action unless the airline moved to cut benefits first. <br/>

IAG is one of the 4 bidders selected for the final stages of talks over the assets of insolvent Austrian airline Niki, 3 people familiar with the bidding said. IAG had made an offer for Niki as a whole and was the frontrunner in talks for the carrier, the sources said. If no deal is struck with IAG, it is possible that Niki will be carved up among several buyers. Thomas Cook and Niki's founder, former Formula One world champion Niki Lauda, are also among the 4, Lauda told German daily Handelsblatt. The administrators running the process aim to agree a deal by the end of next week, one of the administrators said Friday. They did not confirm the identity of the bidders. Lauda, who set up the airline in 2003, said he had been told a decision was to be made Dec 28. <br/>