Source: The Standard Author: 04/24/2009
Subject Concerned: Aircrew Airlines Human Resource
Cathay Pacific will give staff more time to agree to take unpaid leave to help Asia's third-largest carrier weather a slump in global travel demand.
Staff will now have 10 more days to decide instead of having to indicate their position on the matter by April 30.
The airline said it extended the deadline to May 10 to give pilots and cabin crew members on busy flying schedules as well as staff who are on leave more time to come to a decision.
The announcement came as the airline said about 14,000 employees from Cathay and sister company Dragonair have agreed to take unpaid leave. That is around 70 percent of the airlines' total workforce.
For Cathay 85 percent and 77 percent of its Hong Kong ground staff and Hong Kong-based cabin crew, respectively, gave their consent in the first five days since the airline announced that employees will be asked to take unpaid leave ranging from one to four weeks over the next 12 months, with the most senior staff shouldering the largest deductions.
The plan, which is voluntary, is among a raft of measures that Cathay introduced last week after first quarter revenue, including turnover from Dragonair, suffered a 22 percent year-on-year plunge.
However, only 14 percent of Cathay pilots gave their consent over the same period.
Dragonair reported that around 80 percent of ground staff and cabin crew, and 55 percent of pilots have given their consent.