Cathay will cooperate with probes on omicron outbreak

Cathay Pacific Chairman Patrick Healy said the airline will cooperate with two government investigations after outbreaks of the omicron variant were traced back to crew who were allowed to skip strict quarantine requirements aimed at keeping the city Covid free. Hong Kong CE Carrie Lam Tuesday reimposed some of its strictest virus curbs since the pandemic began, with kindergartens and primary schools closing again. That comes after the city closed bars, beaches, beauty parlors and dining-in at restaurants after 6 p.m last week. Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. Chairman Patrick Healy said the airline will cooperate with two government investigations after outbreaks of the omicron variant were traced back to crew who were allowed to skip strict quarantine requirements aimed at keeping the city Covid free. Healy said the carrier will cooperate with investigations into whether crew failed to comply with self-isolation rules and the airline’s practice of rostering crew onto cargo-only passenger aircraft, which allowed them to avoid longer quarantine periods. “The decision to roster staff on cargo-only passenger aircraft to return to Hong Kong was the company’s decision and the company takes full responsibility for that decision,” Healy said. “I am very confident that this rostering practice was entirely in line with the government regulations, which were in place until” Dec. 29, he said.<br/>