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Cathay Pacific
Hong KongTransport

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to resume cadet pilot training programme for first time in 2 years

  • Recruitment drive by city’s flagship carrier aims to increase cadet pilot intake from 180 in 2019 to 190 this year
  • Airline also expected to take on about 150 trained and qualified cadets who were unable to join in 2020 due to coronavirus pandemic

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Cathay Pacific will relaunch its cadet pilot training programme to recruit local talent. Photo: Edmond So
Jack Tsang
Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will resume its cadet pilot training programme for the first time since it was suspended two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with plans to recruit about 190 candidates to boost the beleaguered airline’s personnel numbers.
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A spokesman for the airline said on Monday that the company’s recruitment drive would begin a new collaboration with Polytechnic University and expected to increase its cadet intake from 180 in 2019 to 190 this year.

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Cathay Pacific is confident in the development and long-term future of Hong Kong as a premier aviation hub,” he said, adding the yearly intake of cadets could increase from 190 to between 240 and 300 from 2023 to 2025.

As part of the programme, candidates will start with ground theory lectures in Hong Kong before commencing flight training in either Adelaide, Australia or Phoenix in the United States. Cadets will then be sent to company headquarters Cathay City for multi-crew simulator training.

The course is expected to last about 55 to 60 weeks, with the first intake of 24 cadets set to commence flight training in October.

Previously, Hong Kong’s varying levels of strict anti-epidemic measures led to many pilots quitting their jobs or leaving the city, with the airline later deciding to recruit more locally to ease personnel shortages.
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