Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the aviation industry in Hong Kong has been in a slump. Various customs closures, epidemic prevention and quarantine measures have made the aviation industry unable to operate as usual, and the operating environment has been greatly affected.
Cathay Pacific (0293), which uses Hong Kong as its global base, believes that the lockdown measures have not only hit the aviation industry, but also weakened Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub and international financial center.
In the cosmopolitan city of Hong Kong, the lifeblood of Cathay Pacific seems to be connected with Hong Kong. Cathay Pacific CEO Tang Jianrong believes that "the country is good, Hong Kong is good, and Cathay Pacific is good!".
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, travel restrictions have been tightened around the world. However, as the new crown virus became out of control, some countries and regions began to choose to "coexist with the virus", but Hong Kong and the mainland tended to "zero out", which made Hong Kong's blockade and control The measures have not been relaxed for a long time.
Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said in April that "Hong Kong has virtually disappeared from the aviation map and is no longer an international aviation hub."
In response to the remarks, Cathay Pacific CEO Tang Jianrong bluntly said, "I totally disagree!" He pointed out that although Hong Kong currently lags behind the rest of the world in customs clearance, as the Hong Kong government has continued to relax relevant restrictions since March this year, more Flights can be resumed, and Cathay Pacific is gradually resuming destination operations.
Cathay Pacific has increased from about 29 waypoints in March to 45 in April, and it is expected that the number of waypoints will be higher than 60 by the end of the year.
Tang Jianrong, chief executive of Cathay Pacific, said that if Hong Kong remains closed, its status as an international aviation hub and an international financial center will be greatly affected.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
No reduction in quarantine days news welcomes any relaxation of policies
Tang Kin-wing has firm confidence in the recovery of Hong Kong's aviation industry. What is the reason?
Because he is convinced that "customs clearance" is the general direction of Hong Kong.
Deng mentioned that the current Chief Executive Carrie Lam has always expressed support for the development of civil aviation in Hong Kong, and understands that civil aviation is important to Hong Kong's economic and international financial center status, and the incoming Chief Executive Li Jiachao also emphasized that customs clearance is one of the important tasks.
Deng reiterated that the general direction of Hong Kong is customs clearance, and the society also has a consensus to open up as soon as possible. If Hong Kong remains closed, Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub and an international financial center will be greatly affected.
Before the actual "customs clearance", the quarantine measures in Hong Kong are still strict, and the number of quarantine days for passengers returning to Hong Kong is still maintained for 7 days.
It was rumored that the Hong Kong government met with representatives of the aviation industry and planned to reduce the number of quarantine days to 3 days. Tang Jianrong admitted that "there is no news" and said that Cathay Pacific is very much looking forward to any relaxation of quarantine restrictions, such as reducing the number of quarantine days or not. The need to quarantine in hotels is welcome, which is believed to be beneficial to the recovery of the aviation industry and the connection between Hong Kong and the world.
Cathay Pacific CEO Tang Jianrong has been in the aviation industry for 40 years and believes that Hong Kong will always come out of the slump.
(Photo by Luo Junhao)
"The country is good, Hong Kong is good, Cathay Pacific is good"
"No matter how many storms it has gone through," Tang Kin-wing, who has worked in Hong Kong's aviation industry for 40 years, believes that every time Hong Kong can come out of a trough, every time it makes Hong Kong stronger, and this time will not be an exception.
He did not shy away from saying, "The country is good, Hong Kong is good, and Cathay Pacific will naturally be good." At the same time, he also believes that as long as Cathay Pacific does well, it will be more ideal for Hong Kong's role as an aviation hub or as an international financial center.