shutterstock 1648349905 scaled
shutterstock 1648349905 scaled

Flight attendants usually wish to take pleasure in lengthy layovers in sought-after worldwide locations, however crew at one airline would like to spend much less time away from residence and are asking their airline to convey them residence as quickly as potential.

After most long-haul flights, flight attendants usually have simply 24 hours to discover their vacation spot, socialise and get some relaxation earlier than flying all the way in which again residence. After the longest flights, the layover interval may be prolonged to 48 hours and even longer which implies extra time to take pleasure in a vacation spot and higher pay.

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However Cathay Pacific flight attendants are shunning that additional time away from residence and are as a substitute begging the Hong Kong-based airline to convey them residence as quickly as potential – in some circumstances with none layover in any respect.

The reason being that Hong Kong’s authorities expects aircrew to adjust to onerous ‘closed loop’ protocols after they arrive at their vacation spot. Primarily, meaning aircrew should isolate themselves away from the native inhabitants by locking themselves of their resort rooms.

In 2021, Cathay Pacific cabin crew spent a collective 73,000 nights in quarantine – both in closed loop isolation in overseas nations or again in Hong Kong. One thousand crew even spent greater than 11,000 nights within the infamous Penny’s Bay quarantine camp.

Final week, the Hong Kong authorities lastly lifted quarantine necessities on aircrew who have been returning to the territory however solely on the proviso that pilots and cabin crew proceed to isolate themselves downroute.

In impact, Cathay Pacific cabin crew are nonetheless being anticipated to common endure quarantine as the remainder of the world strikes on from any type of isolation or lockdown.

Now, the flight attendant union is asking the airline to scale back layover occasions to a most of 28 hours and in some circumstances, flight attendants say the corporate ought to present extra crew in order that they work only one sector and are available residence right away.

After all, what flight attendants really need is the liberty to depart their resort rooms, however that can require a giant change in coverage from the Hong Kong authorities. Sources declare a giant announcement is within the works, however nothing has but been formally confirmed.

Cathay Pacific carried simply 253,907 passengers in August and while adjustments to quarantine guidelines are welcome, the airline has warned that it’ll take time to construct up capability as pandemic journey restrictions are lifted.

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Mateusz Maszczynski


Mateusz Maszczynski honed his expertise as a world flight attendant on the most outstanding airline within the Center East and has been flying all through the COVID-19 pandemic for a widely known European airline. Matt is passionate in regards to the aviation trade and has change into an professional in passenger expertise and human-centric tales. At all times protecting an ear near the bottom, Matt’s trade insights, evaluation and information protection is continuously relied upon by among the greatest names in journalism.