Pilot Shortage in Hong Kong

[Freehills]

Originally Posted by main_dog

That’s pretty much it. They would rather a smaller airline but maintain an absolute chokehold on costs.

As to asking the dozens of re-hires about why they’re back, it’s indeed quite illuminating. But in the context of expanding to at least our former size, it might also be instructive to hear from the hundreds who aren’t coming back…

what reasons for coming back? Family ties? Miss having a maid? Don’t like domestic/ LCC flying? Genuinely interested

[corporal klinger]

Compare the salary and working hours to Europe, Australia, NZ or South Africa and you have your answer.

[SunnyTheSemen]

Recruitment yet numbers lower than before Covid. Shortage of Captains, Abundance of shiny SOs

[Dingleberry Handpump]

Originally Posted by Sam Ting Wong

Possibly. But apparently they prefer to expand slower and keeping the costs low.

Hahaha good one. They have had their arm forced into it.

A few people dribbling back from bottom feeder jobs tells you very little. As pointed out, perhaps more info is available from the hundreds (actually, that’s a decimal point off) that aren’t.

At this point, there is no demand for expansion beyond piecing some semblance of an airline back together, post Covid.

There is significant difficulty and mind-bending required to envision a bright future for HK. The 4 economic pillars the govt once touted have been demolished. The latest data on them (trade/tourism/finance/professional services) is available, and it really is ugly.

The business traveller premium passenger - the once bread & butter of CX - have now diverted to and through SIN/DXB/etc. The passenger demographic will merely adjust to reflect the quality and profile of tourist found in HK now.

Party is over. Good thing I sold my flat when I did, too. The potential contagion from the property market up north doesn’t bear thinking about.

[Sam Ting Wong]

Your statements about expansion are completely wrong.The opposite is true. Growth rates at HKIA are almost triple digits, CX just announced record profits and has 70+ aircraft on order.

[Babyjet_dododo]

Originally Posted by Sam Ting Wong

Your statements about expansion are completely wrong.The opposite is true. Growth rates at HKIA are almost triple digits, CX just announced record profits and has 70+ aircraft on order.

How many are to replace current aircrafts in service? Last I heard CX is not looking to expand anywhere else except mainland China, and that’s only with HKE

[SaulGoodman]

Originally Posted by Gnadenburg

OK Mister Angry then there is a genuine pilot shortage crippling business opportunities at CX.

I really don’t know why sone folks on here seem to take the side of a clumsy management. A few pilot coming back isn’t alleviating the shortage STW.

I’m not angry I’m just stating that contracting out the cargo ops (the goose with the golden eggs) of an operation as big as CX Cargo is nearly impossible in the current cargo business. Charter prices ex HKG are soaring again. It would probably make more sense to ground aircraft on less profitable routes and keep the 74F’s flying. And that’s what they are doing, or at least trying..

[KABOY]

Originally Posted by Sam Ting Wong

Your statements about expansion are completely wrong.The opposite is true. Growth rates at HKIA are almost triple digits, CX just announced record profits and has 70+ aircraft on order.

Let's not let the truth get in front of good story. CX early retired 34 aircraft in 2021 so by the time the 70th order arrives there will be another 30+ retirements due to favorable tax concessions CX receives from the IRD. The current 777-300 fleet is over 20 years old with the 330 fleet approaching 16.

'HKIA hitting triple digit growth' lets look at this a little deeper. HK quarantine was scrapped at the end of 2022, the triple digit growth was compared to that year. Not very impressive when the movement rate was 138,700 in 2022 compared to 419,795 in 2019.

Anyway, seems like costs are nicely under control with executive directors taking an average 30%+ pay rise from the previous year. Cathay Pacific, an airline that lets it executive lead by example. Now how much was your pay rise his year? That right it was a bonus.

[Dingleberry Handpump]

Originally Posted by Sam Ting Wong

Your statements about expansion are completely wrong.The opposite is true. Growth rates at HKIA are almost triple digits, CX just announced record profits and has 70+ aircraft on order.

It’s hard to know where to begin with this garbage..

Even you can’t be so dense as to take those figures at face value?

Perhaps you’re right, though. HK is prospering and CX is in wait, in order to capitalise on the phoenix from the ashes story of the city. That’s certainly the trend, isn’t it?

[Sam Ting Wong]

Here are the latest growth rate of HKIA :

https://www.aci-asiapac.aero/media-c...ic-in-february

Here are the latest profit reports of Cathay :

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rd-1-9-billion

this is the order book:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...es-2024-01-04/

Tell me which part you find difficult to understand, I am here to help.

[Dingleberry Handpump]

Originally Posted by Sam Ting Wong

Here are the latest growth rate of HKIA :

https://www.aci-asiapac.aero/media-c...ic-in-february

Here are the latest profit reports of Cathay :

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...rd-1-9-billion

this is the order book:

https://www.reuters.com/business/aer...es-2024-01-04/

Tell me which part you find difficult to understand, I am here to help.

I don’t need any help at all, thank you for offering.

If you think that each of those paints a rosy picture without any further context, then I’m happy for you.

Ps. My investment was worth one dollar a year ago - now it’s worth 2 dollars. What a growth rate!

Yes, it was easy to squeeze yield from pent-up demand when all you have available is a minuscule supply.

When the order book is fulfilled, how much larger will the CPG fleet be compared to 2019?

Are we still bullish on HK? Might be worth contacting the world’s financial press, they must have unilaterally missed the mark.

[Sam Ting Wong]

Well, you are clearly beyond help :-)

[corporal klinger]

When are you leaving, Dingleberry?

[Icantleavebecause]

Originally Posted by SunnyTheSemen

Recruitment yet numbers lower than before Covid. Shortage of Captains, Abundance of shiny SOs

More would return but apparently, returnees are being forced to return on the type that they left on. I've heard that very experienced 777 Captains who volunteered to go to the 747F during COVID have been told that they must return to the 747F. This is being enforced, yet they are desperate for 777 crew.

Various rumours that returnees will be drafted onto the narrow-bodied Airbus when they start arriving.

[TurningFinalRWY36]

Originally Posted by Icantleavebecause

More would return but apparently, returnees are being forced to return on the type that they left on. I've heard that very experienced 777 Captains who volunteered to go to the 747F during COVID have been told that they must return to the 747F. This is being enforced, yet they are desperate for 777 crew.

Various rumours that returnees will be drafted onto the narrow-bodied Airbus when they start arriving.

I hate to be that guy but why should they get to return on the most desirable fleet in the company? I know seniority doesn't mean much anymore but if you return you are at the bottom. Crew still here should have the opportunity for airbus wide body and 777

[Icantleavebecause]

Originally Posted by TurningFinalRWY36

I hate to be that guy but why should they get to return on the most desirable fleet in the company? I know seniority doesn't mean much anymore but if you return you are at the bottom. Crew still here should have the opportunity for airbus wide body and 777

I get that, but aren't they taking ex-777 dudes back to the 777? Y'all would think they'd recruit onto fleets they're desperate for crew on rather than ones they're over-crewed on. Just sayin... Arent they also taking direct entry FO's onto the 777 and Airbus who were not previously in CX? Maybe I have my facts wrong as its all rumours over here. The other rumour is that the 747F is being leased out and will be crewed with non-CX crew. Again, just a rumour but this is PPrune :-)

[corporal klinger]

The "cargo-outsource" rumour seems to be cyclical. In my 22 years here this must be the fourth or fifth time it surfaced.

[AQIS Boigu]

Originally Posted by corporal klinger

The "cargo-outsource" rumour seems to be cyclical. In my 22 years here this must be the fourth or fifth time it surfaced.

I actually preferred the “vote yes,
or they are going to give it all to Dragonair…”

Mentioned at a fleet forum ran by the DCP Airbus in 2018

[Dingleberry Handpump]

Originally Posted by corporal klinger

When are you leaving, Dingleberry?

I left at the end of 2021, why do you ask?

[cxflog]

Originally Posted by Dingleberry Handpump

I left at the end of 2021, why do you ask?

Oh no, now they’re going to insult you for hanging around this forum even after leaving.