Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to close London pilot base employing some 100 cockpit crew members
- Closure of Cathay’s British outpost will be followed by a review of its sole remaining pilot base in the United States
- Move comes amid continuous cost-cutting at the pandemic-battered airline
Pilots at the London base were told on Monday in a memo that their services would no longer be required, but the carrier said it would relocate some eligible people back to Hong Kong.
Cathay added it would start the review of its US base, once its largest overseas pilot centre, later this year. The review and the axing of the British base follow the termination of some 280 crew jobs in Canada, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
“Cathay Pacific has informed the concerned pilots of its decision to close the pilot base in London after an intensive consultation period,” a company spokeswoman said. “The decision is not one we have taken lightly and does not reflect on the professionalism of the pilots based in London.”
The spokeswoman also confirmed the plan to review the US outpost. US-based pilots have been receiving just half of their salary since May last year.
The Post previously revealed Cathay’s intention to close its London pilot base in July.
