Hong Kong has kept out Covid, but exhausted and depressed pilots are paying the price
Before the pandemic, Hong Kong was an aviation hub attracting pilots from around the world. Two years on, pilots at flagship airline Cathay Pacific are so exhausted and depressed from working under one of the world's strictest quarantine regimes that some are reaching a breaking point. Once known as a premier employer, the Hong Kong-based airline is now grappling with plummeting morale, a spike in resignations and mounting frustration as staff undergo arduous self-isolation measures, according to two Cathay pilots. "The morale is all gone. All gone," said the first Cathay pilot, who has worked at the airline for several years. "Everybody's angry." Like most airlines, Cathay Pacific was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic as travel collapsed around the world last year. The carrier was forced to dramatically slash its flight schedule, at one point seeing passenger levels tank 99%. But the challenges it faces as a Hong Kong-based business may be the toughest in the industry. The city, along with mainland China, is one of the last places in Asia still adopting a "zero Covid" strategy. While the insistence on stamping out any trace of the virus means the city is largely Covid-free, the policy also means Hong Kong is home to one of the longest quarantines on Earth. And the recent emergence of Omicron, the new coronavirus variant, threatens to further upend aviation and could lead to stricter controls. The existing rules have reignited debate on whether its approach to the pandemic is ultimately hurting the city — particularly as other places begin to adopt a "living with Covid" playbook. The first Cathay pilot said they recently spoke with four colleagues who quit on the same day, and that resignations were noticeably up compared to years prior. They said "a lot" of colleagues were seeking help to deal with mental health issues. Cathay said that "we fully acknowledge that these rules and the length of time they have been in force are placing a burden on our aircrew, all of whom have been exemplary in their conduct and professionalism throughout this difficult period."<br/>
https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2021-12-13/oneworld/hong-kong-has-kept-out-covid-but-exhausted-and-depressed-pilots-are-paying-the-price
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Hong Kong has kept out Covid, but exhausted and depressed pilots are paying the price
Before the pandemic, Hong Kong was an aviation hub attracting pilots from around the world. Two years on, pilots at flagship airline Cathay Pacific are so exhausted and depressed from working under one of the world's strictest quarantine regimes that some are reaching a breaking point. Once known as a premier employer, the Hong Kong-based airline is now grappling with plummeting morale, a spike in resignations and mounting frustration as staff undergo arduous self-isolation measures, according to two Cathay pilots. "The morale is all gone. All gone," said the first Cathay pilot, who has worked at the airline for several years. "Everybody's angry." Like most airlines, Cathay Pacific was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic as travel collapsed around the world last year. The carrier was forced to dramatically slash its flight schedule, at one point seeing passenger levels tank 99%. But the challenges it faces as a Hong Kong-based business may be the toughest in the industry. The city, along with mainland China, is one of the last places in Asia still adopting a "zero Covid" strategy. While the insistence on stamping out any trace of the virus means the city is largely Covid-free, the policy also means Hong Kong is home to one of the longest quarantines on Earth. And the recent emergence of Omicron, the new coronavirus variant, threatens to further upend aviation and could lead to stricter controls. The existing rules have reignited debate on whether its approach to the pandemic is ultimately hurting the city — particularly as other places begin to adopt a "living with Covid" playbook. The first Cathay pilot said they recently spoke with four colleagues who quit on the same day, and that resignations were noticeably up compared to years prior. They said "a lot" of colleagues were seeking help to deal with mental health issues. Cathay said that "we fully acknowledge that these rules and the length of time they have been in force are placing a burden on our aircrew, all of whom have been exemplary in their conduct and professionalism throughout this difficult period."<br/>
