Cathay: Pilots delay taxi to earn more, says newspaper – 05/16/2023 – Market

Cathay Pacific is having problems with its pilots, who are said to be taxiing slower than necessary to increase their time on board and, as a result, their salaries. The Hong Kong-based airline reportedly noticed that planes were taking longer to reach the gate at Chek Lap Kok International Airport.

According to the South China Morning Post, company managers would then have made a comparative study between the taxiing speed of Cathay Pacific planes and other rival airlines, discovering that Cathay aircraft would be taking considerably longer to taxi at the airport.

The results showed that some Cathay aircraft would be taxiing at speeds much slower than the acceptable lower limit. The reason cited by a source in the Chinese newspaper would be that the pilots of the company, owned by Swire, are now paid from engine start to engine shutdown.

Cathay Pacific has reportedly warned riders, via a leaked memo, that managers are aware of the situation and are now monitoring speeds. A viable taxi speed would be 30 knots (55 km/h), but a slower speed between 15 and 20 knots (27 and 37 km/h) would also be acceptable.

Some sources suggest that the additional taxi time would not earn the pilots much extra money. Other sources, however, said the pilots were taxiing slower simply because they had lost the drive to be efficient.

Cathay Pacific said there is no suggestion that taxiing at a lower speed would compromise safety. The airline said it is working with the Hong Kong airport authority to maintain a safe and efficient operation.

Despite a recent 3.3% salary increase, average salaries for Cathay Pacific pilots are reportedly down 30% compared to the pre-pandemic period. The airline has not officially commented to the press on the matter.