Last month, 92 per cent of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), which represents over 2,000 pilots, voted to go ahead with contract compliance if a resolution over the pay dispute was not reached (see here).
Subsequent negotiations failed to produce a satisfactory compromise, resulting in the initiative being implemented on Thursday.
The work-to-rule action means pilot members based in Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United States will do only what is explicitly required by their contract and no more. This means pilots may refuse to work overtime or on rostered days off, and will not report early for duty.
So far there appears to have been minimum impact. According to a CX spokesperson, both a flight cancellation from Taipei to Hong Kong and a delayed flight from Johannesburg were unrelated to pilot action.
However, pilots have warned the effects are likely to be felt sooner rather than later, meaning travel disruptions over the busy festive period are to be expected.
The airline avoided a double labour action however, as it was announced yesterday that cabin crew have accepted a pay increase of 4.5 per cent and one month’s bonus pay.
Business Traveller Asia-Pacific will continue to monitor the situation.
For more information, visit cathaypacific.com
Tamsin Cocks
