Hong Kong’s Cathay offers first post-Covid voluntary unpaid leave in 2 quarters

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has offered voluntary three-month unpaid leave to cabin crew for the first time since the pandemic for two consecutive quarters, amid modest profit growth forecasts.

The company informed its Hong Kong-based cabin crew that applications were open for the fourth quarter of this year via an internal memo, a copy of which was seen by the Post.

A source told the Post that the move followed the offering of a first round of unpaid leave of up to three months this year, between July and September.

A spokesman later confirmed that the measure was entirely voluntary and on a short-term basis, with the first round of leave introduced earlier.

“To provide our cabin crew with greater flexibility to meet their personal needs, especially with the year-end festive season approaching, we are pleased to announce the opening of voluntary unpaid leave applications for up to three months from October to December 2025,” it said.

The Post also saw a copy of an internal memo issued on May 16 that told staff about the first period of unpaid leave.