Further Route Resumptions?
Mar 9, 2024, 8:04 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 3
SQ / Korean Air/ China airlines all fly into Yangon. China airlines is 4x a week. Sq about to be twice a day. KE once a week. So it all varies. All actually have good connection times as they all leave in the morning allowing people from Europe/ North America to transit.
Not sure about Air China . I don't think any middle eastern carrier serves Yangon. Yet.
Not sure about Air China . I don't think any middle eastern carrier serves Yangon. Yet.
Mar 9, 2024, 8:20 pm
#62
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: New Zealand
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 115
SQ / Korean Air/ China airlines all fly into Yangon. China airlines is 4x a week. Sq about to be twice a day. KE once a week. So it all varies. All actually have good connection times as they all leave in the morning allowing people from Europe/ North America to transit.
Not sure about Air China . I don't think any middle eastern carrier serves Yangon. Yet.
Not sure about Air China . I don't think any middle eastern carrier serves Yangon. Yet.
Yup
In fact you will notice that in most of the cities CX does not fly to because of "market condittions"
SQ has grown or expanded in.
Mar 10, 2024, 12:22 am
#63
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: China
Posts: 1,553
I don’t think the pace of resumption at CX is significantly slower than that at SQ. Hong Kong’s reopening is one year later than Singapore. SQ resumed to 90%-95% of pre-pandemic capacity by the end of 2023 so CX reaching that level by 2024 is still OK.
As for the compensation for pilots, after 30%-40% cut, if my understanding is correct, CX’s package is (finally) comparable to the EK’s. I don't think the package itself is a big problem. (And you can tell how those legacy pilots were spoiled in the old days)
As for the figure provided by the pilot union, two things need to be considered. The first is exactly what you mentioned. They do not include the number from UO. I heard that CX transferred some junior pilots(mainly second officers) to UO. The second is that CX closed the overseas base during the pandemic. The pilots based overseas cannot freely operate flights within CX’s network so CX may never need so many local-based pilots to operate flights when their capacity resumes to the pre-pandemic level.
As for the compensation for pilots, after 30%-40% cut, if my understanding is correct, CX’s package is (finally) comparable to the EK’s. I don't think the package itself is a big problem. (And you can tell how those legacy pilots were spoiled in the old days)
As for the figure provided by the pilot union, two things need to be considered. The first is exactly what you mentioned. They do not include the number from UO. I heard that CX transferred some junior pilots(mainly second officers) to UO. The second is that CX closed the overseas base during the pandemic. The pilots based overseas cannot freely operate flights within CX’s network so CX may never need so many local-based pilots to operate flights when their capacity resumes to the pre-pandemic level.
If it isn't the package that is an issue for recruitment, then it is likely HK itself, in which case they may need to increase the package to get people to come (and stay). Especially as overseas bases are not offered anymore.
Mar 10, 2024, 12:36 am
#64
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 415
Maybe you are right, and CX will be back to pre-COVID by the end of this year, I have my doubts. Remember EK is zero tax, and currently paying 23-24 weeks profit share, so it is likely that the 'take home' is better than CX by a decent margin now.
If it isn't the package that is an issue for recruitment, then it is likely HK itself, in which case they may need to increase the package to get people to come (and stay). Especially as overseas bases are not offered anymore.
If it isn't the package that is an issue for recruitment, then it is likely HK itself, in which case they may need to increase the package to get people to come (and stay). Especially as overseas bases are not offered anymore.
So I think both the package offered by CX and Hong Kong itself are fine. The current shortage is simply about CX firing too many pilots during the pandemic and it takes much time to hire them back. And it seems that CX is more dedicated to train local people after the pandemic.
Mar 12, 2024, 12:06 am
#65
Join Date: Dec 2023
Programs: Asia Miles Korean Air Skypass Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles
Posts: 99
CX actually routes many passengers on UA (and B6) nowadays given AA’s abysmal network in the LAX/JFK/SFO/BOS.
EWR and IAD both have a ~10pm departure bank, and would work very well for connections destined for the Northeast and the south Atlantic. CX routes most of these passengers through ORD nowadays. As AA wind down their operations there too, these connections are becoming less convenient.
EWR and IAD both have a ~10pm departure bank, and would work very well for connections destined for the Northeast and the south Atlantic. CX routes most of these passengers through ORD nowadays. As AA wind down their operations there too, these connections are becoming less convenient.
Mar 17, 2024, 2:28 am
#66
Join Date: May 2021
Programs: Cathay Pacific - Diamond
Posts: 38
China Eastern recently started PVG-RUH too.
Mar 17, 2024, 6:06 pm
#69
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,171
just saw from Dec24 onward I see CX155/150 flight combo back. That's 10pm-830am HKG-BNE on cx155 and 1045am-5pm BNE-HKG. this adds a critically useful night flight for commuters. zeroed out for now but being loaded to system is promising
Mar 17, 2024, 6:21 pm
#70
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: NZ Airpoints GE, Qantas Platinum, Accor Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 968
No airline is flying to Saudi for free, so to speak.
Mar 18, 2024, 5:15 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2023
Location: UK/HK/USA
Programs: BA Executive Club, CX Asia Miles, FlyingBlue, TrueBlue
Posts: 233
Personally, I'm less interested in this RUH resumption than whatever other routes they open up as a result of this government nudging toward more Southeast Asia and Middle East. I might bet on Cairo someday.
Mar 19, 2024, 12:12 am
#72
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Cathay Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 691
I see though 2.5 years after Singapore lifted its Covid restrictions SIA is still flying only about 90% of its pre pandemic schedule - not exactly an overall expansion !
Mar 19, 2024, 12:34 am
#73
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Cathay Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 691
They are also being potentially pushed in this direction by the HK government, which asked them to support HK's "strategic economic development," which very much includes links to the Gulf right now (especially Saudi, to which there are currently not direct flights). My sense is there's probably not an extra financial incentive to do this, though, just the incentive to avoid awkwardness with the government.
Personally, I'm less interested in this RUH resumption than whatever other routes they open up as a result of this government nudging toward more Southeast Asia and Middle East. I might bet on Cairo someday.
Personally, I'm less interested in this RUH resumption than whatever other routes they open up as a result of this government nudging toward more Southeast Asia and Middle East. I might bet on Cairo someday.
I ask as I disagree that the airline is being or is likely to be pushed by the HK government re Saudi flights. There are no direct flights from HK because there is no viable market.
Cairo is an absolute non starter in my opinion although OW partner Royal Air Maroc's home base of Casablanca ( with 60 African destinations) is I feel very possible at some point. Huge untapped Asian tourist market plus good business class transit potential
Mar 19, 2024, 12:41 am
#74
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MarcoPolo (SL), BA Executive Club (GO)
Posts: 1,852
Your source of this information please.
I ask as I disagree that the airline is being or is likely to be pushed by the HK government re Saudi flights. There are no direct flights from HK because there is no viable market.
Cairo is an absolute non starter in my opinion although OW partner Royal Air Maroc's home base of Casablanca ( with 60 African destinations) is I feel very possible at some point. Huge untapped Asian tourist market plus good business class transit potential
I ask as I disagree that the airline is being or is likely to be pushed by the HK government re Saudi flights. There are no direct flights from HK because there is no viable market.
Cairo is an absolute non starter in my opinion although OW partner Royal Air Maroc's home base of Casablanca ( with 60 African destinations) is I feel very possible at some point. Huge untapped Asian tourist market plus good business class transit potential
CMN - whilst having connectivity to Africa, is too far West and involves most connections backtracking. DOH offers enough African connections to most major cities, whilst MAD offers some additional connections to West Africa. CX would be better off relying on QR.
Mar 19, 2024, 1:50 am
#75
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Cathay Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 691
I doubt very much that CX is seriously looking at any direct Saudi routes having cancelled the routes that you mention in 2014 and 2016 that had run for only a few years.
Too far west for who? I did not mention this in the context of Saudi flights only as a likely CX African destination at some time in the future. Cathay were a of sponsor RAM into OW
Too far west for who? I did not mention this in the context of Saudi flights only as a likely CX African destination at some time in the future. Cathay were a of sponsor RAM into OW