News
Cathay Pacific Airways “interested” in long-range A350 variant
June 10th 2016
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways is talking to Airbus and Rolls-Royce about a stretched A350 variant (dubbed -2000, or -8000) that would allow it to serve destinations such as Mexico City and Miami nonstop from its home base, according to Cathay chief executive, Ivan Chu. Read More » Last week Cathay took delivery of its first A350-900. The Swire carrier has 22 A350-900s and 26 -1000s on order. Chu said the carrier will deploy the -1000 to the U.S. east and west coasts from 2018. Cathay also has 21 B777-9X on order.
In other Hong Kong news, Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express are urging the local Airport Authority to issue more departure and arrival slots between 10pm and 1am and 5am and 7am to alleviate the growing bottlenecks at near-capacity Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Other measures discussed include raising the number of daytime slots by up to five an hour from the current 68 movements.
"We could literally open another 20 destinations in six months," HK Express CEO, Andrew Cowen, commented. Cathay said adding flights “is essential to keep the competitiveness of Hong Kong compared to rival airports” and acknowledged it has become "more and more difficult" to increase flight movements at HKIA.
British Airways could face legal action in Hong Kong because of a dispute with its local cabin crew association. The 100 BA crew members based in the city are alleging they have not received a salary increase since 1998.
"We have already sought legal advice and there is a huge chance we will win. We are not afraid," Carol Ng Man-yee, general secretary of the union said. BA said: "We have carried out research that indicates that our cabin crew in Hong Kong receive a generous package that is above the market rate. Our permanent members of crew received an increase in pay earlier this year and are entitled to a number of flying allowances the value of which has been increased over the years."
