On October 21 last year, Cathay Pacific announced the layoffs and reorganization, and its 35-year-old Dragonair also drew a notice, immediately suspended operations, and many crew members immediately lost their jobs.
One year after the incident, the epidemic eased, but customs clearance was indefinite. In the past, the Dragon Pilot returned to the ground and the sky became out of reach.
Some former Dragonair pilots criticized that only less than 20% of local Dragonair pilots can resume their old careers. Cathay Pacific still insists on applying for work visas for foreign pilots. In June this year, the Immigration Department successively granted them visas. Many local pilots were disheartened.
The local market does not have room for local pilots. Some former Dragonair pilots plan to work in foreign airlines. Some of them have immigrated with their families to obtain European aviation licenses.
If the situation continues, there will be a wave of immigration of local pilots, and a number of local aviation talents will be lost.
Tan Songxi recently accepted an interview with "Hong Kong 01", looking at Kai Tak from the Kwun Tong waterfront, where the former airport was located.
(Photo by Liao Yanxiong)
Topics on the first anniversary of Dragonair's graduation:
Dragonair closes one year | Hong Kong aviation industry loses 8,600 people due to epidemic
Former Dragonair Deputy Captain Tan Songxi became a pilot through the Dragonair Trainee Pilot Training Program. He had been in the post for more than 7 years before Dragonair completed his course.
He was interviewed by "Hong Kong 01" in January this year. At that time, he mentioned that Dragonair had closed its business. A total of about 400 pilots holding Hong Kong ID cards were unemployed, and nearly 300 of them were native Hong Kong residents.
However, Cathay Pacific continued to hire foreign pilots who did not have permanent residency in Hong Kong, and failed to recruit local pilots who were unemployed due to the completion of Dragonair.
The Hong Kong government also does not guarantee priority employment for locals, and the Immigration Department continues to issue visas to foreign pilots from Cathay Pacific.
Tan Songxi questioned at the time that since there are competent local talents who are unemployed, the authorities should not grant work visas to foreigners, otherwise the "General Employment Policy" may be violated.
Interview with Cathay Pacific's "Slaying the Dragon" series at the beginning of this year:
Cathay Pacific slaughter the dragon | Localization low tide 400 Port Pilot Unemployed Immigration Department renews visa for foreign pilots
Cathay Pacific Slaying the Dragon｜The pilot transferred to the bus and taxi driver, the former captain of Dragonair sighed: I really want to fly again
Cathay Pacific Slaying the Dragon｜Academics: Hong Kong lacks supporting training and high cost. Priority should be given to local pilots in Hong Kong
Nine months later, although Cathay Pacific’s work visa approval for foreign pilots was temporarily suspended, by June this year, the Transport and Housing Bureau stated that it would retain aviation talent in preparation for the rebound and recovery of the aviation industry after the epidemic.
There will be "special arrangements" for applications for extension of stay of non-local pilots, which will be approved according to the general model, that is, the extension can usually be extended for three years.
▼Cathay Pacific layoffs▼
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Although the authorities emphasized that the above arrangement is temporary in nature, it has been taught that local pilots who are still unemployed are discouraged.
Tan Songxi said bluntly that the local pilots' actions completely caused the local pilots to feel completely unable to get the support of the Hong Kong government. ."
Less than 20% of Dragonair's local pilots retrenched can rejoin the aviation industry
According to the statistics of the former Dragonair pilots, there are currently more than 50 former Dragonair local pilots who are employed by Hong Kong airlines. That is, only 16.7% can re-enter the aviation industry in Hong Kong. The remaining 250 remain Unemployed or has simply changed careers.
Tan Songxi said that even if the affected pilots are hired in Hong Kong, the salary of the aviation industry will generally be calculated according to the working years of the company, so the salary will drop significantly. Some former Dragonair captains, even if they are lucky enough to be transferred to Cathay Pacific, will work. He was downgraded to the post of deputy captain, and his salary fell sharply by 60%.
Tan Songxi said frankly that he hadn't had a full-time job in the past year. In April, he went to the Greater Bay Area Aviation for an interview, but because the company failed to set sail as scheduled, except for the first few pilots who were hired for training, the rest could only continue to wait; to In June, Cathay Pacific restarted the recruitment of pilots, and he also had an interview.
According to his understanding, many local pilots have applied, and Cathay Pacific is basically willing to hire, but there is also an indefinite waiting period for entry. Only about 30 people can sign up to work.
Although Cathay Pacific is facing difficulties, as the leader of the aviation industry in Hong Kong, Tan Songxi roughly estimated that Cathay Pacific still employs about 1,000 non-local pilots.
He emphasized that the current aviation industry is sluggish and new hires of local pilots rarely drive. He questioned the reasons why local pilots are required to be unemployed but allowed to continue to hire foreign pilots.
Unemployment for a year may trigger a wave of pilot immigration
After failing to obtain a return to the plane meeting locally, Tan Songxi went to Ireland and the United Kingdom at the end of August to obtain European and British flight licenses. "Under a reluctant scenario, I will first test for cards from other countries."
He added that very few local pilots are required to obtain foreign aviation licenses.
At present, Cathay Pacific retains foreigners. With nothing to do, many local pilots, taking advantage of the signs of recovery in the foreign aviation industry, have decided to "look internationally" and consider applying for foreign airlines.
He pointed out that some people have already stated clearly that if the government continues to issue visas to foreign pilots, they will not stay in Hong Kong, and a group of local pilots will be lost. "If Cathay Pacific pleases, there will be a wave of immigration."
Tan Songxi said that for the time being, he has not actively applied for a job in a foreign airline. The first choice is to stay in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong is always my housing company." However, the situation remains the same. In order to continue working in the aviation industry, he will work in a foreign country.
Dragonair pilot transferred to work in the UK
Another former Dragonair Deputy Captain King was the pilot who Tan Songxi said he chose to work in a foreign country.
He went to the UK in February this year to prepare for the relevant aviation license, and has recently been hired by the British air transport company.
King has lived in the UK since he graduated from university and returned to Hong Kong. He became a pilot through the Dragonair trainee pilot training program. He has lived in Hong Kong for about 8 years.
He said that he regards Hong Kong as his home and has established a life circle. He wants to continue to live in Hong Kong. "Everything is very convenient," but the property prices are higher.
He continued that after the completion of Dragonair, like other former colleagues who were affected, they applied for all Hong Kong airlines' resumes, but they all fell to nothing. As a result, in February this year, he decided to return to the UK to obtain an aviation license.
King took a flight test before. The picture shows the local simulated flight driving center.
(Respondent provides photos)
King said that he originally planned to wait for the government to handle visa matters before deciding whether to leave Hong Kong, but he said frankly, "How long can I wait?" Completed 28 examinations within half a year, and obtained European and British civil aviation licenses in August and September respectively.
At least 5 pilot families left Hong Kong with their families
Recently, there has been a wave of immigrants in Hong Kong. King said that although working with foreign airlines generally requires local residency and related aviation licenses, he has been constantly asking about how to obtain foreign licenses. There are also 5 pilot families and the whole family. After leaving Hong Kong and looking for flying jobs abroad, he believes that the actual number of people leaving Hong Kong is greater.
Although working in Hong Kong is the first choice, King said that salary in the aviation industry is calculated based on the number of years of employment after joining the company, and it is necessary to "start from low" when transferring to the company.
If you are hired by Cathay Pacific in the future, you will have to consider salary arrangements and so on, and I believe you will continue to stay in the UK for the time being.
Disappointed that the Hong Kong government has not given priority to protecting local employment
Speaking of the unemployment of many Hong Kong pilots, King said he was disappointed that the government's responsibility should be to protect the employment of Hong Kong people, not foreigners.
At the beginning, Dragonair trained a large number of local pilots, which involved a lot of money and time resources. Now Dragonair has completed the training, but it has been wiped out.
He lamented that it is a pity that Hong Kong has restored the scale of local pilots before the epidemic, and it may take another 20 years.
Dragonair graduated for a year. In the past, it had been hired as a bus driver. Someone drove a taxi. Some ran a snack shop. Some people left Hong Kong to find another way out. King said bluntly: "It's a year without a sound. You will How long will you wait?"
Cathay Pacific Slaying the Dragon | Localization Ebb 400 Hong Kong Pilots Unemployment Immigration Department renews the visa for foreign pilots Dragon routes include Guangzhou, Wuhan, Nanjing, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong government refused to approve foreign flight attendant visas. Foreign pilots were granted visa renewal for half a year to three years ago. Professional performance
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