Cathay Pacific to close crew base in Toronto as part of revamp

[SINGAPORE] Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd is closing its cabin crew base in Toronto as part of a business review, potentially affecting 120 workers in the Canadian city.

The Hong Kong-based airline is talking with the union to explore options for the employees, including opportunities in other locations, it said on Tuesday in response to a report in the South China Morning Post. The company doesn't have plans to close other bases outside Hong Kong, it said.

Cathay Pacific is in the final year of a transformation programme that started in 2017 after fierce competition from Chinese airlines and low-cost carriers led to losses in two consecutive years. The Hong Kong-based company is seeking to reduce HK$4 billion (S$693.1 million) in expenses after cutting 600 jobs at its main office and added more seats on some of its aircraft.

Last year, Cathay Pacific offered a voluntary early retirement package to employees in Japan and completed a "comprehensive review" of its regional structure including North-east Asia. It plans to recruit more than 1,000 cabin crew in Hong Kong this year, the company said.

The airline is offering flights to more destinations and improved in-flight meal services in efforts to lure customers.

BLOOMBERG