Low pay, fatigue and staff shortages put Hong Kong’s aviation hub status at risk: unions

Hong Kong's aviation industry is facing a crisis in attracting and retaining talent due to poor employment conditions, according to unions and a lawmaker. Hong Kong International Airport, currently the world's busiest cargo airport for the 15th time, aims to strengthen its position as a global hub. However, unions say low pay, irregular shifts, long commuting times, and physically demanding conditions are causing frontline workers to leave.

This shortage of experienced staff threatens the airport's operational efficiency and the city's goal of developing its aviation industry. The government has introduced a Labour Importation Scheme to address manpower shortages, setting median wage benchmarks for frontline occupations. However, the union says this only applies to designated occupations and does not cover supervisory roles, leading to wage disparity and discouraging workers from seeking promotions.

The Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, representing pilots at Cathay Pacific, also raised concerns about unsatisfactory employment conditions and inadequate protections for pilots, citing pilot fatigue as a major issue. The association urges Cathay Pacific to restore two regular meetings with airline management and calls for a tripartite dialogue among pilots, airline management, and the aviation regulator to strengthen safety.