Cathay Pacific Airways has begun chartering aircraft from other airlines as flight disruptions mount after the launch of "indefinite" industrial action by its 1,200 unionised pilots. A work-to-rule campaign, launched on 3 July, resulted in an increase in flight delays. The action has begun as a "go-slow", in which pilots adhere to company operating manuals. The disruptions could spread to cancellations, with pilots calling in sick as they did in 1999 during a two-week action that cost the airline an estimated $64 million. On 5 July, Cathay began temporarily wet-leasing aircraft from other airlines, starting with 10 narrow- and widebodies from five mainland Chinese carriers.
Source: Flight International
