Hong Kong flagship carrier Cathay Pacific will cut around a dozen flights a day until the end of February to avoid last-minute cancellations over the peak Lunar New Year travel period, the airline has said.
In a statement on Sunday, Cathay Pacific said it had “consolidated on average six flight pairs per day for the rest of January and February, focusing on routes with multiple daily frequencies where possible.”
“We have taken measures to ensure Cathay Pacific’s flights will operate normally for the coming Chinese New Year travel peak,” Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam is quoted saying in the statement. “Hong Kong people travelling out and visitors coming to Hong Kong can be reassured that their travel will go ahead as planned.”
The move came after the airline axed dozens of flights on the last three days of December and New Year’s Day, citing “higher than anticipated pilot absence caused by seasonal illness.” The cancellations affected flights between Hong Kong and Japan, mainland China, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea, among other destinations.
The airline said in the statement that it had “learned” from the “operational disturbances” over the busy Christmas travel period, and was “committed to providing customers with more flight choices in a measured and reliable manner.”
Passengers affected by the cancellations this and next month would be contacted individually and offered the closest available flights or a refund, the airline said.
The coming Lunar New Year marks the first since Hong Kong lifted all Covid-19 travel restrictions, in place long after countries around the world had relaxed their rules. This time last year, Covid-19 patients were still handed compulsory quarantine orders and the mask mandate was in place.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau said it was “highly concerned” about Cathay Pacific’s flight arrangements, urging the airline to follow up with passengers and minimise the impact on them.
“Hong Kong’ aviation industry is moving towards normalcy, and it is the busy Lunar New Year travel period next month,” the bureau said in response to HKFP. “Local airlines should increase manpower to meet demand, and also have the responsibility to handle flight schedules and manpower arrangements to offer reliable service.”
The bureau added that it would remain in close contact with Cathay Pacific.
Post-pandemic recovery
Hong Kong’s prolonged pandemic measures dealt a heavy blow to Cathay Pacific, which slashed its workforce as it grounded a significant portion of its passenger fleet.
The airline also introduced new contracts during Covid-19 that saw many pilots accept pay cuts, as well as reduced pension contributions and housing allowance. In response, Cathay Pacific has seen a pilot exodus that unionists say has slowed the airline’s recovery.
While Cathay Pacific attributed the flight cancellations during the Christmas period to pilot absences due to seasonal illness, the chairperson of its pilot union said the shortage of pilots was “at the root” of the problem.
“This is what happens when you don’t have enough pilots,” Paul Weatherilt, the chairperson of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, told HKFP last week. “There will always be some illness among crew but this doesn’t mean flights have to be cancelled.”
According to the association, the airline added just over 100 pilots last year after making hundreds redundant during Covid-19.
Last August, Cathay Pacific Group posted its first half-year profit since 2020, with earnings increasing to HK$4.26 billion – but it was still only at less than 60 per cent of pre-pandemic passenger capacity.
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