CX warns staff protesters

CATHAY Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg warned the company’s employees on Mon of a “zero tolerance” approach to participation in Hong Kong’s protest movement, saying anyone who supports the civil unrest would face disciplinary action that “may include termination of employment”.

Demonstrations again closed Hong Kong International Airport for departures last night, with hundreds of CX services across the globe impacted in recent days.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had earlier said that any CX staff supporting the protests would be banned from flights going to, from or transiting via mainland China.

The regulator has ordered the airline to submit identification details of crew operating services using mainland Chinese airspace.

The CAAC also said that a failure by Cathay to act against staff taking part in demonstrations “gravely threatened aviation safety, created negative social consequences and increased the risk of flying from Hong Kong to mainland China”.

Hogg’s warning to employees is a backflip from earlier CX statements, including one last week by the airline’s Chairman, John Slosar, who said the company would not intervene.

“We certainly wouldn’t dream of telling [our staff] what they have to think about something.”

However Hogg has since asked staff not to “support or participate” in the airport protest.

The airline’s share price yesterday plummeted to its lowest level in over a decade.

A ForwardKeys analysis of bookings to Hong Kong from 16 Jun-09 Aug, found long-haul flights dropped 4.7% on the same period last year, while bookings from Asia (excluding mainland China) are down 20%.