Hong Kong Airlines Aims to Return to Pre-pandemic Levels By 2024, Remuneration Increment for All Employees Effective 1 January 2023

[Hong Kong ▪ 12 January 2023] With the rapid recovery of air travel demand in sight, Hong Kong Airlines is seeking 1,000 new talents to join its workforce by the end of 2023 to meet operation needs and future growth.

In another positive development today, Hong Kong Airlines announced salary increments for both crew and ground staff. This will include an 8% basic salary pay rise and up to a 10% increase to the flying hourly rate for crew members, whereas all ground staff will receive a 5% basic salary pay rise plus a discretionary 5% quarterly variable incentive effective 1 January 2023. The distribution of such quarterly variable incentive is based on the Company’s performance and individual performance as achieved in certain performance standard set in the appraisal. Staff will be notified individually for details.

Hong Kong Airlines Chairman Mr Hou Wei expressed his sincere appreciation to the staff, noting that the adjustment is a recognition of everyone’s dedication who have supported the Company’s journey of riding out the storm. He said: “Our staff has continued to embody the spirit of ‘Truly Hong Kong’, to remain vigilant, whilst also delivering the best possible services to the Company and our customers throughout the course of the pandemic.”

The Hong Kong-based carrier expects to increase its flight operations to 30 sectors per day by January 2023, reaching 30% of those at pre-pandemic levels; flying to 15 regional destinations including Tokyo, Osaka, Okinawa, Sapporo, Seoul, Bangkok, Manila, Hanoi, Taipei, Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Haikou, which is 50% of the operation level before the pandemic. The Company is also looking to return to 75% of its operating capacity by the end of 2023, and 100% of its operations by mid-2024.

To further support its flight resumption in 2023, the Company recently re-activated staff previously on Long Pay Leave back to their positions. It will also resume its recruitment programme with the goal of hiring 1,000 new staff by the end of 2023. This will include 120 pilots, 500 cabin crew, and 380 ground staff that will be hired both locally and overseas, bringing the total workforce back to 60% to 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

“We have leveraged every travel recovery opportunity over the past few months amidst unprecedented pent-up demand, and we continue to see positive business growth, particularly from the Japanese markets. Following the reopening of Chinese borders, Mainland China will definitely be the next market to contribute significantly to our travel recovery efforts. As such, our flights to the Mainland double up to 35 sectors per week starting from 10 January, to offer more travel options for our customers,” Hou added.