"Serious Breach" of Procedures During Layovers

Cathay Pacific fired 3 of its pilots reportedly infected with Covid-19, citing a breach of company procedures while on overseas layovers.

The company was taciturn as to the details involved in the decision to terminate flight crews, with little official information to fill in the gaps. Other Cathay staff who stayed at the same hotel in Frankfurt since November 1 were ordered into a Hong Kong government-mandated quarantine upon their return home. 

Rumors around the Hong Kong approach to Covid policy have assumed the country's top priority is to reopening travel with China as soon as possible. While the region has recorded few active cases in the area but increasingly tightening restrictions anyway. The discovery of infections within the Frankfurt hotel employees led to the forced quarantine of 150 employees along with their households and community contacts.

Those held in quarantine are said to be spending 3 weeks in government facilities, which may thankfully not require out-of-pocket hotel reservation. 

Once reported, Cathay announced it would increase the frequency of its compliance checks to ensure safety protocols were strictly and absolutely followed, leading to some analysts questioning whether the firings were done for effect in the hopes of scaring employees into compliance. Hong Kong has cratered its tourism activity since instituting a policy that includes mandatory 3-week quarantines for arrivals, while cargo demand has remained and even increased the point of breaking even for the airline from July to October. 

FMI: www.cathaypacific.com