Cathay Recruits 3,400 Pilots This Year, Keeps Resignation Rate at Record Low

Cathay Group, one of Hong Kong’s leading airline companies, has successfully met its goal of hiring 3,400 pilots this year, a key step in its recovery and return to pre-pandemic flight capacity.

The company also expects to recruit 100 more pilots by the end of January 2025, further strengthening its workforce. This milestone highlights Cathay’s commitment to rebuilding its operations and ensuring smooth flight operations as it prepares for a full return to pre-pandemic levels.

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The company had initially set this target for the end of 2024 but extended the timeline to early 2025 to accommodate the ongoing recovery process. The announcement came just days before the launch of Hong Kong’s new three-runway system, a major development aimed at increasing the airport’s capacity.

Cathay had already hired more than 3,100 pilots by August, leaving the company with a need for an additional 300 pilots to hit its 3,400-pilot goal. This number, however, still falls short of the pre-pandemic pilot count of 3,800. Despite this, Cathay is confident that it is moving in the right direction and is optimistic about meeting its target.

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One of the key factors behind Cathay’s success is its competitive pilot remuneration package, which has helped attract new talent. More than 330 former Cathay Group pilots have also rejoined the airline during its rebuild process, bringing valuable experience back into the fold.

Additionally, the company has maintained a remarkably low resignation rate of just 2.9% for 2024, the lowest it has seen since 2019. This demonstrates the stability and satisfaction of its pilot workforce during this recovery phase.

Cathay remains confident in its ability to meet its projections, with a spokesperson stating that the airline has “robust plans” for recruitment. This comes despite concerns raised by the pilots’ union, which has expressed doubts about the pace of the company’s recovery. Nevertheless, Cathay has made significant progress in hiring and training pilots, ensuring that the airline will soon operate at full capacity once again.