Pilots’ association blasts Cathay for ‘gaslighting’ Hong Kong by causing own shortages

A Cathay Pacific pilots’ association has blasted the airline for “gaslighting Hong Kong” and causing its own labor shortages in order to post record profits and management bonuses. 

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) released the statement on Friday after Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, a Cathay executive, described labor shortages as the biggest obstacle for airlines to recover from the Covid-19 era. 

Lau, who also chairs the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR), made the remarks on Thursday at the Hong Kong Aviation Day event. 

She also said operational costs at the Chek Lap Kok airport are very high and appealed to authorities to step up support to the industry. 

In Friday’s statement, HKAOA said Cathay owns a significant amount of the airport handling resources that it needs, the same resources that the airline members of the BAR are short of. 

“This includes Hong Kong Airport Services Ltd and Cathay Pacific Catering Services (HK) Ltd. Both are owned by Cathay. 

“This is not a Hong Kong shortage of which Cathay is the victim. This is of Cathay Pacific’s making. Cathay management caused this shortage when it made decisions to cut contracts permanently, driving staff away.” 

HKAOA also said the airline’s actions have hollowed out Hong Kong’s aviation skill base, despite support from the people and the government. 

“Cathay Pacific is holding Hong Kong aviation to ransom for record profits and management bonuses,” HKAOA also said. 

In reply, Cathay said the entire aviation ecosystem, both in Hong Kong and globally, continues to face significant operational constraints caused by multiple factors, including aircraft and component production issues, supply chain challenges, and a shortage of various aviation related skills. 

“Having emerged from Covid later than other airlines, the Cathay Group has worked hard to rebuild our network as rapidly as possible while ensuring this is done in a measured and responsible way,” a spokesperson said. 

“The Board of Airline Representatives described recently how labour shortages faced by these providers is restricting traffic resumption by all airlines. The newly introduced labour importation scheme will help alleviate this but it will take time to see the benefits. 

“Our resumption plans have taken all of these aspects into consideration and this is why the Cathay Group is confident that we will reach 70 percent of pre-pandemic passenger capacity levels by the end of 2023, and return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024. 

“We take our responsibility to keep Hong Kong connected very seriously and are encouraged by the progress we have made so far,” the spokesperson added.