Hong Kong horror

Travel to Hong Kong is expected to take some time to recover, amid ongoing unrest which has seen millions of locals take to the streets in recent weeks. Flights were heavily affected by a blockade at Hong

Kong International Airport, impacting services for several days and taking a particularly heavy toll on Cathay Pacific which clearly is walking a fine line as it works to keep the territory’s Chinese administration happy.

The industry was shocked to hear of the abrupt resignation of muchrespected CX CEO Rupert Hogg at the height of the protests – after seeming mixed messages about the participation of the airline’s staff in the civil uprising.

Chairman John Slosar initially said “we wouldn’t dream of telling our employees what to think,” but within days the rhetoric changed, amid the departure of Hogg alongside Cathay Pacific Chief Commercial

Officer Paul Loo.

Slosar hinted that recent events had “called into question Cathay Pacific’s commitment to flight safety and security and put our reputation and brand under pressure,” reiterating the airline’s full support for Hong Kong under the principle of ‘One Country

Two Systems’.

Qantas has already responded to reduced demand for Hong Kong flights, downgauging aircraft amid a 10% dip in booking volumes.