Cathay Pacific Airways today dismissed three flight attendants following allegations of discrimination in opposition to non-English speakers. Secret occurred on flight CX987 from Chengdu to Hong Kong and led to widespread concern, prompting the airline to concern a honest apology.
Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam announced the workers dismissals after an internal investigation and reiterated the company’s zero-tolerance method to critical violations of firm guidelines and ethics.
Lam additionally said that he would lead a cross-departmental working group to evaluate service processes, staff training, and related methods in order to enhance service high quality. The main aim is to ensure that all Cathay Pacific workers respect passengers from completely different backgrounds and cultures and provide skilled and consistent service across all areas served.
The controversy started when a passenger on the flight from Chengdu shared a web-based post claiming that flight attendants complained about passengers in English and Cantonese. They allegedly made enjoyable of a passenger for asking for a carpet instead of a blanket in English. A recording of the dialog was circulated extensively online, but its authenticity could not be verified by Reuters. This incident sparked criticism on social media.
Cathay Pacific has been working to rebuild its status as it recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline experienced significant setbacks due to flight cancellations, border closures, and strict quarantine measures for the crew, leading to substantial staff reductions since 2020.
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, commented on the discrimination incident, stating that it was critical and must not be repeated. He emphasised that the actions of the flight attendants hurt the feelings of each Hong Kong and mainland compatriots, damaging Hong Kong’s traditional culture and values of respect and courtesy..