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Olga Wong

Cannix Yau

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has announced an average salary increase of 3.8 per cent for its employees next year, matching the levels of 2023.
Cathay’s decision to raise salaries followed reports that the company’s top bosses were paid about 20 per cent more last year than in 2019, with some enjoying substantial gains even as the carrier struggled to return to full capacity.
Cathay CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por was the highest paid, with a package worth HK$10.45 million (US$1.34 million) last year, including a bonus for the preceding year. His pay rose by 32 per cent from HK$7.91 million in 2022 after being promoted to the top job.
The aircrew, in comparison, only received a monthly pay rise of slightly over HK$300.
“Cathay is committed to being an attractive and engaging employer of choice that rewards our people for their contribution,” the company said on Tuesday.
In addition to a discretionary bonus announced earlier, the Cathay Group would introduce an average salary increase of 3.8 per cent for 2025, it said.

“We want to thank all of our people for their incredible contributions over the past year,” the airline said.
“As we focus firmly on the future opportunities for the Cathay Group, especially with the coming opening of the three-runway system, we are confident that we will move to even greater heights together as we strive to become one of the world’s greatest service brands.”
The company also announced a 3.8 per cent salary increase for its employees in November 2023.
The three-runway system at Hong Kong airport is expected to be fully operational starting next Thursday.
In October 2020, Cathay shed a record 5,900 jobs in Hong Kong and axed its regional airline Cathay Dragon in a HK$2.2 billion restructuring plan.
Remaining aircrew and pilots were offered cost-cutting contracts that slashed pay by over 40 per cent, while housing and retirement benefits for pilots were also reduced.
A spokeswoman of the carrier’s Flight Attendants Union said the increment was below its proposed rise of 4.5 per cent and urged the company to improve its pay given the rising cost of living in Hong Kong.
“We hope that future salary increments and other benefits can be improved to better recognise our members’ contributions and support to the company, ensuring that our pay stays competitive among the industry,” she said.
“It is important that the company continues to recognise our people in order for us to continue to support Cathay as it returns to pre-pandemic flight levels … We hope mutual interest could be met in the future.”
Tina, a flight attendant with Cathay Pacific, said her basic salary was still under HK$10,000 per month despite the pay rise.
“The company has earned billions of dollars a year in profit but we’ve only got a monthly pay rise of slightly over HK$300,” she said.
“It’s like keeping the fat chicken for themselves but we only have soy sauce. How can we survive amid the rising living cost?”
Lawmaker Ambrose Lam San-keung, a frequent flier of Cathay Pacific, said the airline’s service quality had been declining compared with a decade ago.
“The quality of the food and the in-flight entertainment have dropped compared with 10 years ago. Cathay Pacific needs to improve its services to compete with other top airlines,” he said.
“It is important to provide A-class services, not only to VIPs, but also to general passengers, so as to gain more loyal customers.”
The flag carrier’s net profits shrank 15.3 per cent to HK$3.61 billion in the first six months of the year against the same period in 2023 as airfares descended from abnormal heights.
In August, the group rolled out a major investment initiative of more than HK$100 billion to be generated over the next seven years, as the flag carrier sought to embark on a “bold new strategy”.


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Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to raise staff salaries by 3.8% on average in 2025

Cathay Pacific will raise staff salaries by 3.8 per cent on average in 2025. Photo: May Tse

Cathay cabin crew members at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Eugene Lee

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The HK Express tickets only include one small personal item and one piece of cabin baggage for the passenger. Photo: May Tse

HK Express is not the only airline rolling out discounts. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific pays top bosses 20% more than before pandemic despite flight blunders, ongoing woes

Cathay Pacific’s executive directors enjoyed substantial pay rises in 2023. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Cathay CEO Ronald Lam (right), with chairman Patrick Healy, was the highest paid executive. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong’s Cathay group carries over 20 million passengers in 2023, with analyst estimating firm back at 56% of pre-pandemic levels

The firm’s performance last year represented a near sevenfold jump from 3 million passengers in 2022.  Photo: Elson Li

Cathay CEO Ronald Lam says flight numbers have reached 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Photo: Jonathan Wong

New cabin crew at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific can earn up to HK$20,000 a month after pay increase, dependent on number of flying hours

Cathay employs over 6,000 flight attendants, down from more than 10,000 in pre-Covid times. Photo: Sam Tsang

Cathay says it will continue to listen to cabin crew and review pay. Photo: Jonathan Wong

 Some veteran cabin crew have demanded the same benefits they enjoyed in the pre-pandemic era. Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Flight attendants’ union had asked for a rise of 4.5 per cent while bosses had significant pay bump in recent years


Flight attendants’ union had asked for a rise of 4.5 per cent while bosses had significant pay bump in recent years.
