Tag Archives for cathay pacific.
Mainland China forced Cathay Pacific to fire its CEO, a scalp on the wall over the airline’s insufficient initial deference to the mainland during mass protests in Hong Kong.
The Chinese government placed onerous restrictions on the airline’s flying in order to pressure the carrier to purge employees sympathetic to anti-Beijing efforts. These efforts worked to bring the airline into line, and it’s created a culture of fear at the carrier.
American Airlines has been adding online booking of award travel with several of their partners, most recently Japan Airlines awards in July and Etihad awards back in May.
Now Cathay Pacific awards are bookable at the aa.com website but only if you use the old search tool.
Cathay Pacific’s CEO Rupert Hogg, and the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, have resigned. Hogg has been well-regarded in the role, driving a turnaround in the airline’s finances.
Ultimately the move is harmful to China’s ability to maintain Hong Kong as a business center, showing how the state will meddle in corporate affairs rather than adhering to “one country two systems.”
A requirement to avoid Chinese airspace for Cathay Pacific would add time and fuel expense to flights. The airline might choose to exert pressure on employees not to protest and even express support for protests in social media or be penalized by being unable to work.
Meanwhile Chinese media is reporting on state-owned enterprises instructing employees not to fly Cathay Pacific when other airline flights are available.
This is an attack on Cathay Pacific. It’s also an effort to leverage Cathay Pacific’s influence over its employees. And it’s a demonstration of the ability of mainland China to punish Hong Kong companies and workers for defiance.
Despite a business class seat that dates to 2011, it’s ultimately good to see Cathay continuing to invest in its premium product. They can’t compete on cost with low fare rivals and need to leverage the premium market at their Hong Kong base. When the airline takes delivery of its first Boeing 777-9 we’ll see a new first class seat as well.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Hong Kong’s airport and mass transit refused to display a Cathay Pacific ad which depicts two men walking on the beach holding hands with a slogan ‘move beyond’.
While this highlights continued lack of tolerance for homosexuality in Hong Kong, and backlash as societies undergo transformation, it also signals a broader discomfort in Hong Kong with social movements as Beijing asserts its influence over the increasingly less independent region.
At the beginning of the year there was an incredible first class mistake fare on Cathay Pacific from Vietnam to the U.S. It was quickly followed by an Air New Zealand business class mistake fare from Chicago to Sydney. Both fares were honored.
But fares like these are now rare. And they rarely occur with US airlines anymore. That wasn’t always the case.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
