Locked in hotels: Hong Kong's COVID-19 rules take mental toll on Cathay pilots
Reuters
Excerpt
Nov 26, 2021
One of Asia's largest airlines, Cathay Pacific, is facing a revolt from pilots who say Hong Kong's tough quarantine rules under its zero-COVID policies are endangering their mental health, leading to rising stress and resignations.
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) last week fired three pilots who breached company rules by leaving their hotel rooms during a layover in Frankfurt and later tested positive for Covid-19.
The government responded by forcing more than 270 people, including school children linked to their families, into tiny quarters at a state quarantine camp.
Some pilots declared themselves unfit to fly for their first rostered duties upon release.
The extreme example of pandemic-related precautions under China's zero-Covid policy highlights the difficult working conditions facing Cathay pilots, all fully vaccinated, even as other Asian countries slowly reopen.
Cathay rivals including Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX) have begun unwinding strict layover policies but the Hong Kong government is tightening rules further in line with the mainland, hoping to convince Beijing to allow cross-border travel.
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