The Hong Kong Aircrew Officer Association chairman described the move as a “band-aid measure.” Credit: Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s largest airline Cathay Pacific is offering bonuses to pilots willing to fly during the lunar new year period as part of its attempts to minimise disruption during the major holiday season. 

According to reports, the airline has offered bonuses of 30%, 25%, and 15% of the aircrew’s usual hourly rates, in the hopes of enticing staff to take shifts between 7 and 18 February. 

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The offer is the latest attempt by Cathay Pacific to address predicted disruptions during the Lunar New Year holiday (Spring Festival), one of the biggest in Asia, following its cancellation of 12 flights per day through to the end of February, a move criticised by pilot unions and local authorities. 

The annual festival is one of the largest human migrations in Asia, with 480 million trips expected in China alone over the full 40-day period.

The decision reflected the airline’s ongoing staffing problem, stemming from employee departures during the Covid-19 pandemic when the company issued new contracts for pilots. 

See Also:

Paul Weatherilt, chairman of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), told Bloomberg: “It’s a band-aid measure, not a solution. It’s an acknowledgment that even with a reduced Lunar New Year schedule compared to 2019, Cathay is still short of pilots.” 

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

According to the HKAOA in December 2023, Cathay is operating with around 58% of the pilots it had during 2019 for its passenger operations, limiting its growth and increasing the effect of any staff illnesses. 

However, the airline did record a 541.5% increase in the number of passengers carried on its services in 2023 compared to 2022.