Exclusive | Cathay Pacific’s London pilot base facing shutdown, with 100 jobs under Hong Kong carrier at risk
- The British facility is the latest to fall in the cross hairs of a cost-cutting bid as Covid-19 pandemic rages
- Airline had earlier closed pilot bases in Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand
Cathay Pacific is proposing the closure of its London pilot base, placing nearly 100 jobs at risk as the airline commences consultation on employing Britain-based cockpit crew in future.
Hong Kong’s embattled flag carrier is pursuing its latest cost-saving measure as part of drastically scaled-back operations overseas amid the Covid-19 pandemic, with its British base the latest to face closure following the shutdown of four other foreign branches. A similar base in the United States remains untouched.
The airline has closed pilot bases in Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand in recent months, affecting 280 jobs, though dozens of crew members who were eligible to work in Hong Kong had opted to relocate.
A spokeswoman confirmed the carrier’s latest intention. “We have notified our London-based pilots and their union representatives of a proposal to close our London pilot base,” she said. “This is simply a proposal at this stage and no decisions have been made.”
The proposal to shut down the London base follows a similar move in April involving its Australian counterpart, which then resulted in a formal closure.