Cathay Pacific’s foreign pilots struggle to get Hong Kong work permits

Fresh from axing 5,300 jobs in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific said its employment of foreign pilots was under “greater scrutiny” from immigration authorities, and expats were facing difficulties obtaining and renewing work visas. Aviation insiders said the struggles for pilots in obtaining or renewing work permits to fly for the airline was leaving their jobs in limbo, and risked hampering Cathay’s operations, especially with freighter pilots being hired in preparation to move coronavirus vaccines around the world. They also warned that by creating hurdles for expat pilots, officials risked hurting the city’s economy, and going against their promise of cherishing Hong Kong’s status as an international aviation hub. Airline employees, affected or with knowledge of the situation, said the problems started after the airline cut more than 5,000 jobs, and scrapped regional brand Cathay Dragon, in October, subsequently leaving hundreds of local pilots looking for work. Work visas are issued under strict criteria, including that a job could not be performed by a Hongkonger. The issues pilots faced were not thought to be linked to the current political climate. In a memo to pilots last week, Chris Kempis, Cathay’s director of flight operations, said the carrier was aware that the “Immigration Department is reviewing renewals with greater scrutiny”. Kempis said the airline was “in active dialogue with the appropriate decision makers” at the department, and acknowledged the sudden events had caused “a degree of anxiety among those affected” and pledged to update staff as soon as more information was available. The Post is aware of several pilots, at the company and its subsidiaries, who were being given short-term renewals of up to three months only, instead of two- or three-year visa renewals.<br/>