Pilots warned over pay-linked slowdown

Cathay Pacific has warned its pilots of disciplinary action after Hong Kong airport complained some of its planes were taxiing at "considerably slower speeds," causing congestion on the runway.

It is believed pilots were trying to increase their working hours to get extra pay after their salaries were cut by about 40 percent from prepandemic levels.

A Cathay employee told local media pilots were dissatisfied and refused to comply with a pay scheme that was implemented during the pandemic.

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association said last year that the airline had slashed employees' fixed income and allowances. Chairman Paul Weatherilt told The Standard yesterday the pay scheme effectively left them with wages up to 40 percent lower than prepandemic levels and that half of pilots' salaries are now variable, up from the previous 10 percent.

He said the variable pay scheme, calculated by the minute, now scales with the flight's "block time," from pushback to arrival at the gate, meaning pilots get paid less if they arrive earlier than scheduled. Weatherilt called it a "disincentive to efficient operation."

Weatherilt, a Cathay captain for 28 years, added: "If we are able to operate more efficiently and complete the flight in a lower block time than scheduled, we are paid for the shorter period. No other airline in the world does this."

He said most pilots around the world earn more than those at Cathay, adding it is one of a small number of airlines that made cuts but have not reinstated a fixed-pay system.

And Cathay made "record profits" last year, he said, attributing the operator's reported HK$6.55 billion annual loss to underperformance from mainland carrier Air China, in which Cathay now holds a 16.3 percent stake.

Cathay's revenue of HK$46.4 billion outweighed operating expenses of HK$43.9 billion last year, showed the carrier's 2022 annual report, while a press release states the passenger load factor surpassed 90 percent in March.

Weatherilt said Cathay now has fewer than half the number of senior pilots it needs to crew its aircraft as they leave to fly for other carriers or return abroad.

"It's a reflection of the very low pilot morale in the company," he said. "Until the company is ready to work with pilot representatives to address these issues, little will change."

A staffer said pilots were not intentionally trying to leverage the variable pay system for higher wages, but they did not feel obliged to go out of their way to help the airline. A pilot said: "Flying faster cuts your wages. Why would you want to do your job better?"

In internal correspondence last month, Cathay said it was informed by the Airport Authority that its data indicated aircraft were taxiing at considerably slower speeds than other operators for both arrivals and departures.

Cathay said its data confirmed those reports and it would take further action if slow taxiing speeds were recorded in future.

It usually takes about 10 minutes for planes to taxi from the apron to runway, but some Cathay flights have spent about 40 minutes in overseas airports lately, says a flight record website overseas.

Weatherilt said pilots are cautioned not to taxi quickly, usually at 10 to 15 knots, and 30 knots at maximum.

A Cathay spokesman said yesterday: "Cathay Pacific works closely with airport authorities in Hong Kong and markets where we operate."

The Airport Authority said taxiing time has a definite impact on apron operations, especially for arrivals.

cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com