HONG KONG— Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) is offering Hong Kong-based cabin crew a second round of voluntary three-month unpaid leave for 2025, marking the first back-to-back quarterly rollout of such leave since the pandemic.
The airline announced the scheme in an internal memo on August 1, ahead of its half-year results, where it reported a modest 1.1% rise in net profit to HK$3.65 billion (US$465 million). The leave period will run from October to December 2025, following a similar scheme between July and September this year.
Photo: Cathay PacificCathay Pacific Cabin Crew Leave
According to a copy of the memo seen by South China Morning Post (SCMP), the initiative is entirely voluntary and aimed at giving crew greater flexibility, particularly during the year-end festive season.
The first round of unpaid leave for 2025 was announced in May and covered up to three months between July and September.
A Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)-based Cathay Pacific confirmed that the arrangement is not new, describing it as a long-standing option to balance personal needs with operational requirements. The airline emphasised that despite the leave offer, it remains confident in meeting passenger demand during peak travel seasons.
The company has invested heavily in its fleet expansion, recently ordering 14 Boeing 777-9 aircraft. This pushes its total planned investment above HK$100 billion, covering the purchase of 100 aircraft.
Photo- Cathay PacificRecruitment and Operational Outlook
Last year, Cathay Pacific hired nearly 5,000 new cabin crew worldwide, bringing its total workforce to over 30,000.
Chairman Patrick Healy told SCMP that the airline’s post-pandemic recruitment surge has stabilised, aligning with long-term growth targets. Recruitment and training now continue at more typical historical levels.
The airline previously introduced unpaid leave schemes during major downturns, including in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and in 2009 during the global financial crisis.
Normally, unpaid leave is limited to one month and subject to strict approval, but the current offer allows up to three months and appears more accessible to staff.
Several cabin crew members have welcomed the scheme, seeing it as an opportunity to manage personal commitments or take extended holidays without jeopardising operational staffing levels.
Photo: By Melv_L – MACASR – https://www.flickr.com/photos/54943237@N04/33637427183/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=81422463Market Pressures and Analyst Outlook
Despite resilient travel demand, Cathay Pacific faces challenges. An HSBC analyst report downgraded the carrier’s stock from “hold” to “reduce,” forecasting a 9–12% drop in recurring profits by 2027.
The report cited lower yields from expanding long-haul routes, rising operating expenses, and cargo market headwinds due to trade tensions and increased capacity from resumed passenger flights.
Cargo yields are expected to remain under pressure through the end of the year, particularly on Transpacific routes, where competition and available capacity are both increasing.
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