Cathay ups safety checks

Cathay Pacific has stepped up checks of safety equipment in flight and after landing, after oxygen bottles were found empty on three flights, leading to the suspension of crew.

The airline flies daily between New Zealand and Hong Kong and has found itself caught in the middle of protests in the territory with some pilots sacked, one for joining a demonstration, and top-level resignations.

Although the airline is not linking the emptying of oxygen bottles to the civil unrest, there is speculation it could be a form of low-level protest to cause disruption by any of a number of workers who have access to planes on the ground or in the air.

The bottles are not part of the main emergency oxygen system for aircraft but are used in case of medical events.

In a statement to the Herald, the airline group said crew on the flights — two Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 flights (from Toronto to Hong Kong) and one Cathay Dragon flight (from Bali to Hong Kong), had been suspended. Dozens of crew would be grounded.

Some portable oxygen bottles stored on board the operating aircraft were found to be fully discharged or partially discharged.

The airline says it has reported the incidents that happened in the middle of last month to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and the police.

”We always conduct pre-flight inspections. Recently, we have further strengthened our security measures to now also include inflight and post-landing checks . . . to ensure all emergency equipment is serviceable and that the safety of our crew and passengers is upheld at all times,” said a spokesperson.

Cathay Pacific had come under pressure from Beijing after not initially taking action against staff who were involved in prodemocracy protests. The mainland Civil Aviation Authority threatened the airline to prevent it from using Chinese airspace.

Just over a fortnight ago chief executive Rupert Hogg and chief customer and commercial officer Paul Loo quit in a sign Chinese authorities were exerting more pressure.

The airline has just extended its joint venture alliance with Air New Zealand for another five years.