Long-serving executive Ronald Lam will take over as chief executive of Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) from Jan. 1, the airline said on Wednesday, as it scrambles to rebuild capacity after the coronavirus pandemic. Now that the Asian financial hub has scrapped onerous hotel quarantine rules, the airline is looking to build up passenger numbers. Those were down 89% in September from the corresponding month in 2019, when anti-government protests had shrunk traffic. Lam will lead Cathay through its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the launch of a third runway in Hong Kong, as well as overseeing a dual-brand strategy with low-cost carrier HK Express, Chairman Patrick Healy said in a statement. Still, Cathay has said it expects to reach a third of pre-pandemic passenger capacity by year-end, well below a target of 81% set by rival Singapore Airlines. Cathay, which plans to hire 4,000 more staff over the next 18 to 24 months as travel rebounds, has said adding more flights is a priority but time will be required to train crew and reactivate aircraft. Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the pilots' union, said he hoped Lam's appointment was an opportunity for change at the airline after it cut thousands of jobs during the pandemic and permanently reduced the pay of remaining crew. "Cathay has a mountain to climb to replace the staff, particularly pilots, that have left and continue to leave," he said.<br/>
oneworld
Cathay Pacific’s new boss has reason for optimism. Hong Kong’s embattled flag carrier on Wednesday announced Ronald Lam, its chief customer and commercial officer, will take over from Augustus Tang. The outgoing CE can flash a half-decent report card. Tang’s over three-year tenure has been filled with turbulence. He navigated the Air China- and Swire Pacific-backed company through backlash from Beijing after employees took part in the 2019 Hong Kong protests. Then the Covid-19 pandemic crippled air travel. The $6b airline has seen a modest rebound of travellers since Hong Kong dropped hotel quarantine requirements. Still, passenger flight capacity is at 16% of pre-pandemic levels. Cathay has survived thanks to aggressive cost-cutting and a $5b bailout. On some measures, it has outperformed. Since Tang’s appointment in August 2019, Cathay has logged a negative total return of 16%. That’s in line with $11b Singapore Airlines, and significantly better than the 30% negative return of the local Hang Seng Index. Lam’s success will hinge on Hong Kong’s Covid policies and whether he can hire enough staff. <br/>
A Qantas Dash 8-200 caught fire at Sydney airport on Tuesday shortly after landing, leading to 24 passengers evacuating via its front stairs. The QantasLink Flight 265 had just arrived from Lord Howe Island at 5:40 pm on Tuesday, 8 November. Smoke was seen billowing from 26-year-old VH-TQS’s rear tyres before flames erupted on the rear tyres of the aircraft. Emergency services arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire shortly after those on board were evacuated. No passengers were injured in the incident, with many appearing relatively unfazed during the evacuation in footage posted to social media. QantasLink CEO, Petrea Bradford, said, “Passengers on a flight from Lord Howe Island to Sydney were evacuated following reports of flames near the tyres after the aircraft had landed safely. “We appreciate this would have been unsettling for passengers, and we thank them and our crew for evacuating in a calm and orderly manner. Airport fire crews attended, passengers will be bussed to the terminal, and engineers will inspect the aircraft.”<br/>