Cathay Pacific faces cabin crew industrial action over Christmas

Cathay Pacific cabin crews are set to launch industrial action over the Christmas and new year holidays, in a blow to the Hong Kong carrier’s recovery from a pandemic that crippled flights and slashed passenger levels. The airline’s flight attendants union said it was urging members to “work to rule” — keeping strictly to contract terms — because of “inhumane” flight patterns and excessive workloads. The action comes during the peak holiday season, but Cathay said flight services would continue as scheduled, adding “there is no need for concern . . . we will continue to listen to and act upon feedback from our crew”. Hong Kong has been encouraging visitors and travel with the gradual relaxation of Covid measures. It scrapped hotel quarantine in September and last week began to allow inbound travellers to visit bars and restaurants in their first three days after arrival. The Asian financial hub’s economy has taken a hit from the long-running restrictions, with officials expecting a 3.2% contraction in annual gross domestic product, after GDP shrank 4.5% in Q3. Although flying levels are picking up, Cathay only operated at 20 per cent of its pre-pandemic passenger capacity levels last month. The carrier is targeting 70 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger levels by the end of next year and full capacity by 2024. However, pilots and cabin crew have complained about “stressful” working conditions after the airline laid off thousands of staff in 2020 due to the pandemic, while many more left after pay cuts and because of tough quarantine rules. “We hereby urge you to take real actions to support the flight attendants’ union in fighting for what you deserve,” the cabin crew union of the Chinese territory’s de facto flagship carrier said.<br/>