All Options On Table, Says Cathay Amid Job Cut Fears

Cathay Pacific's chief ruled “nothing is off the the table” as staff unions of the airline – while welcoming a government funding – said they are disappointed that there were no assurances about job security.

Speaking after the government announced a multi-billion dollar plan to help the airline, which is left struggling for survival as Covid-19 pandemic throttles the travel sector, Cathay chairman Patrick Healy refused to give any assurance that there won’t be job losses.

"We can’t take anything off the table is unfortunately the honest answer to that question,” he said.

Healy said right now, only recapitalisation is planned but the management will presents its future plan to the board towards the end of this year.

The vice-chairperson for the airline's flight attendants union, Amber Suen, told RTHK’s Priscilla Ng they're disappointed that the company hasn't promised to keep all existing staff.

It is reassuring to know that the troubled carrier is getting a much-needed lifeline, Suen said.

"I would say it kind of provides, to a certain extent, some kind of reassurance, also hope for both investors and employees within Cathay,” she said.

“But we are disappointed they were reluctant to promise [that they would] not implement redundancy given the fact that they already have help and assistance from the government.”