Cathay Pacific hopeful pay dispute can be settled
AP - 1 hr 16 mins ago
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HONG KONG (AP) — Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.'s incoming chief executive said Monday he's hopeful a pay dispute with pilots will be settled to avoid disruption during the busy Christmas season.
John Slosar said he's optimistic the airline and pilots will be able to reach a deal in pay talks scheduled to start on Dec. 13.
Pilots at Hong Kong's biggest airline voted last week to give union leaders the authority to declare a work-to-rule if the two sides don't make any progress in the talks.
"We're reasonably optimistic about reaching a settlement that both sides are happy with," Slosar told reporters.
Slosar said he's optimistic there won't be any disruption during the holidays.
Almost all of about 1,400 pilots who voted were in favor of allowing union leaders to decide on whether "contract compliance" is necessary.
If they decide it is needed, they will ask pilots not to carry out duties beyond what is required in their contracts, such as working overtime or on their days off because of a shortage of pilots.
The airline said Slosar, who is currently chief operating officer, will replace 55-year-old Tony Tyler as CEO when he departs on March 31.
A replacement for Slosar, 54, has not been announced.
Cathay said on Friday that Tyler will leave the airline to become the chief executive of the International Air Transport Association.
Tyler will begin his new job in July at the Geneva-based association, which represents some 230 of the world's biggest international airlines.
The airline also announced Monday that it will be adding two new routes in 2011. Starting in June, it will start flying four times a week from its Hong Kong base to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. In September, it will add a daily flight to Chicago.
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