“In Response To This Egregious Situation, ALPA Requested The DOT Examine This Issue."

Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued the following statement in response to an order issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) yesterday that requires Hong Kong–based Cathay Pacific and other Hong Kong carriers to submit flight schedules for all U.S. flights to determine if any are “contrary to applicable law or adversely affect the public interest.”

“ALPA applauds the DOT for their quick action on this very important issue and their efforts to restore a level playing field in the U.S.-Hong Kong market.

“ALPA pilots have been working stoically throughout the pandemic to ensure the vital flow of goods and people, including, recently, global distribution of the vaccine itself. However, Hong Kong’s actions with respect to coronavirus-related air crew quarantines are inconsistent, haphazard and pose an ongoing risk to U.S. pilots by forcing ‘close contact’ crews to quarantine upon arrival at a government quarantine camp. In addition, the Hong Kong government’s exception for Cathay Pacific’s Anchorage, Alaska, cargo operation from those quarantine requirements puts U.S. carriers at a significant disadvantage.

“In response to this egregious situation, ALPA requested the DOT examine this issue. We are encouraged by the DOT’s initial step and hope that the DOT and the State Department will continue to press Hong Kong until the onerous testing and quarantine treatment of U.S. crews is rectified.”

FMI: www.alpa.org