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Hong Kong’s flag-carrier Cathay Pacific will rehire staff as part of its plan to increase flight number following improved travel demand across Asia-Pacific, according to a South China Morning Post report.
The airline invited former personnel furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic to send a priority application, the local publication reported.
"We have started to reach out to former cabin crew of the Cathay Pacific Group who we had to part ways with during the restructuring in 2020, but who expressed an interest in being notified when opportunities to rejoin Cathay Pacific arise," Cathay Pacific spokesperson told Aerotime. "Given the lead time required in personnel recruitment and training, we are continually reviewing our people resource requirements for the 18-24 month period ahead and planning for the anticipated recovery in Hong Kong and global aviation in this period."
In an emailed statement Cathay Pacific added that the airline relaunched Cadet Pilot training program in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in April 2022. Cathay Pacific expects to train over 280 local cadet pilots in 2022 and more than 1,000 by 2025.
The news comes just weeks after the airline announced its operating results and financial outlook for the upcoming months.
In April 2022, the airline carried 40,823 passengers, just 1.3% of pre-pandemic levels.
“The recent adjustments to the Government’s travel restrictions and quarantine requirements will help facilitate the gradual resumption of travel activities and the strengthening of network connectivity to and from the Hong Kong aviation hub,” Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Ronald Lam said in a monthly traffic update on May 11, 2022.
Cathay Pacific has been among the worst hit worldwide by strict COVID-19 travel restrictions in Hong Kong and mainland China.