Cathay Airways to Cancel Flights Again

Cathay Pacific Airways said it would cancel nearly a third of its flights for the third straight day today because of a pilot sickout.

The airline canceled 34 flights Sunday after an increasing number of pilots facing pay cuts and layoff threats called in sick to work, the airline said.

They were the latest in a string of cancellations over the last three days. In March, Cathay asked its senior pilots to take an 8% pay cut in exchange for stock options.

Another 27 flights will be canceled today, an airline statement said.

The airline has been trying to cut costs since it suffered its first loss in 35 years last year.

About 6,500 passengers were affected Sunday, more than the 5,000 who were affected when the airline was forced to cancel 30 flights Saturday, the airline said in a statement.

The airline said it transferred most passengers to other flights.

The flights canceled Sunday included flights from Hong Kong to San Francisco; New York; Vancouver, Canada; Tokyo; Osaka, Japan; Melbourne, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Zurich, Switzerland; Taipei, Taiwan; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; and Manila, as well as flights from London; Tokyo; Sydney; Australia; Zurich; Rome; Singapore; Bangkok; and Manila to Hong Kong.

Pilots began calling in sick Friday, three days after Cathay halted nine weeks of talks with the pilots’ union, the Hong Kong Aircrew Assn., and offered a revised pay package with a smaller pay cut and better stock options.

The carrier is giving the pilots until noon June 11 to decide whether to take a pay cut, retire early or be fired.