Crisis-hit Cathay Pacific Airways says 25,000 staff will take unpaid leave
More than 25,000 Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. staff have agreed to take unpaid leave, according to an internal memo from Chief Executive Officer Augustus Tang, in which he thanked employees for their support as the airline contends with the impact of the coronavirus.
The CEO, who took over last year after his predecessor Rupert Hogg was ousted amid the fallout from anti-government protests in Hong Kong, said Cathay’s business challenges “remain acute.” The airline has about 33,000 employees worldwide, with nearly 20,000 in Hong Kong.
Cathay has sharply cut its flight capacity because of the impact the virus has had on travel, presenting a fresh challenge after the protests in Hong Kong weighed on the company’s performance in the second half of 2019.
