Cathay to ease pay turbulence over roster changes

Cathay Pacific pilots will get up to 50 percent compensation for flight hours shortfall if the airline initiates changes in their roster.

The new allowance will be introduced in January to "reduce the impact of roster changes on pilots and bring further stability to their take-home pay," the flag carrier said yesterday.

If a pilot's flight hours are reduced because of company-initiated roster changes, such as flight cancellations, delays, training flight replacements, or aircraft type switches, Cathay said it will assign new duties to them to minimize the reduction in flight hours.

"If these hours cannot be replaced within the month, pilots will be compensated for up to 50 percent of the shortfall in hours," Cathay said.

Director Flight Operations, Captain Chris Kempis, said: "We are pleased to announce another positive change for our pilots that will bring further stability to their pay.

"We remain committed to engaging with our people ... and making changes wherever it is viable and sustainable to do so."

Cathay said eligible pilots will receive a "special appreciation reward" of up to six weeks' pay in their September payroll, for those who have stayed with the airline throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

It raised pilots' basic salary by 3.3 percent and productivity pay for reaching their target hours at the beginning of this year. It also increased allowances for certain ranks of pilots.

The airline said Wednesday it carried more than 10 million passengers in the first eight months of this year. Last month, 1,784,980 passengers traveled with Cathay, up 603 percent on August last year.

Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, said Cathay's decision "seems like a small step in the right direction."

"Pilots have a guaranteed number of monthly hours. Above this, an annual target is set by the company. On any given month, if pilots make that target exactly, they would receive 43 percent more pay. But if those extra hours are removed, there is a huge impact on that month's pay," he said.

But he said the arrangement will have little effect on morale as the airline is offering to replace only half of the volatility.