Cathay Pacific Airways and Royal Nepal Airlines have lengthened the list of Asian carriers suffering from discontented pilots.
Troubled Royal Nepal suffered a serious problem in March when its pilots went on strike, grounding the carrier for 10 days.
The dispute stemmed from the Kathmandu-based airline's controversial decision to wet-lease a Boeing 757 from China Southwest Airlines for one year to replace a 757 wet-leased from Russia's Transaero Airlines.
The carrier has two 757s and has been searching for some time for a third aircraft on a long-term dry lease to maintain international services.
Pilots demanded that the carrier cancel its China Southwest contract and dry lease a Boeing 767, but the state-owned airline refused. The ensuing strike was broken by the Nepalese Government, which said it was causing major damage to the country's economy. National elections are to take place in May.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, is facing the threat of labour troubles from its pilots, from whom the airline is trying to secure sizeable pay cuts.
Hong Kong's Air Crew Officers Association has charged that the airline, which suffered its first full-year loss in 35 years last year, is using the regional financial crisis as an "excuse" to secure long-term cost-cuts.
Pilots based in Hong Kong have been asked to accept pay cuts of up to 8% while those in Australia, Canada and the UK are being asked to accept a reduction of as much as 27%. Stock options are to be offered in proportion to the pay cuts and pilots had until 30 April to respond to its offer.
All Nippon Airways, Philippine Airlines, TransAsia Airways and Japan Air System (JAS) have also suffered pilot problems since the economic downturn began in mid-1997. ANA, PAL and TransAsia all suffered damaging pilots' strikes last year, while JAS has suffered at least two pilot work stoppages this year, the most recent in mid-April.
Source: Airline Business
