'Fly more, earn more' incentive for Cathay flight attendants

Cathay Pacific's cabin crew will get a 3 to 8 percent rise in their pay from next month if they log in longer flying hours, according to the airline.

Cathay said its cabin crew's total take-home pay comprises monthly basic salary, productivity pay based on their flying hours and an outport layover allowance.

Earlier, the airline said it had introduced a 3.3 percent increase to aircrew's basic salary and productivity pay, as well as a new outport turnaround allowance for employees who return to Hong Kong on the same day.

Starting next month, the airline will further improve productivity pay so that cabin crew who complete their typical flying duties can have their monthly salaries increased by 3 to 8 percent.

"In pursuing our goal of being a leading employer, we engage with our cabin crew and review their remuneration on an ongoing basis," the airline said.

For instance, a newly hired cabin crew member can earn a total of HK$17,000 per month after they complete a typical roster of 70 flying hours.

As the flight numbers continue to increase, entry-level cabin crew with longer flying hours can expect to earn HK$20,000 a month on average.

Cathay general manager of inflight service delivery Vincent Yu said Cathay will listen to the cabin crew's opinions and review pay to ensure the airline offers a competitive salary.

"This will enable us to continue to reward and retain our valued people, attract new talent and provide a fulfilling career path for our people as we continue to rebuild Cathay and the Hong Kong international aviation hub," he said.

The move comes as the Cathay Pacific Airways Flight Attendants Union said last month that cabin crew were frustrated due to heavy workload and low salary. That was right after the airline fired three flight attendants following a passenger's complaint that they discriminated against non-English speakers.

"After the epidemic, the number of passengers gradually increased as flights resumed, but the company has no intention to resume the previous manpower on each flight," the union said.

"As frontline workers in the aviation industry, we are facing a shortage of both manpower and resources, a significant increase in workload and low salaries.

"The union urges the company to address the problem at its root, rebuild a reasonable and safe work environment, and hence improve employee morale."