Cathay Pacific’s passengers spared service disruption

According to the International Herald Tribune, passengers of the Hong Kong-based airline, Cathay Pacific, will be spared the frustration of ruined travel plans this Christmas, associated with the threat of a strike that loomed large until this morning. A union representing flight attendants threatened to organize a walk-out just in time for the holiday rush next week, but since

Cathay’s executives appear to have accepted the demands of labour representatives–concerning health care coverage and benefits–at the eleventh hour, the strike has been called off.

Cathay Pacific had planned to require employees to pay for part of the cost associated with visiting a doctor. This change in medical coverage would have affected around 10,000 employees. The carrier has now agreed to waive these proposed fees until at least 1 May 2008, as part of its concession to its unionized workforce. The union has now confirmed that the impending strike has been called off and that they are reasonably satisfied with

Cathay’s concession. The airline, however, has yet to comment publicly on the arrangement in any detail.

Cathay Pacific is considered to be one of only six “five-star” full service airlines in the world—according to the most recent Skytrax ratings–and as such, it is known for its above average in-flight service in all of its cabins. Established in 1946, the carrier is part of the OneWorld alliance and operates a fleet of 111 airplanes. Based at the

Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay flies to a total of 120 destinations in Asia, Europe, North America and

Oceania.

www.cathaypacific.com