Fearing coronavirus contact, Cathay Dragon staff plan strike to halt China-bound flights

Cathay Dragon's employees are threatening to go on strike unless the company meets their demands to suspend flights between Hong Kong and Chinese cities due to fears regarding the coronavirus outbreak, according to various reports.

Flight attendants from Cathay Dragon have warned that they would consider strike action if the airline does not cease flying to Chinese destinations, following the quarantine of six crew members after coming in close contact with infected passengers last month. Several crew members who had been flying to China have already quarantined themselves for 14 days, which is the maximum estimated incubation period for the disease.

According to The Standard, the Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Flight Attendants Association will have a members' meeting on Saturday to discuss an industrial action prior to a motion to decide if a strike will be launched. Front-line staff were said to be "extremely upset and scared" as they worked with colleagues who were on flights where confirmed cases had been discovered.

As for in-flight services, the association had also requested the company to stop using reusable objects for flights and simplify services to reduce contact with passengers.

However, after meeting with parent company Cathay Pacific's management, the association's appeal was not accepted. Cathay responded by saying it would only gradually halve the number of flights.

The Standard cited that Cathay Pacific said it has "temporarily modified in-flight services and minimised overnight stays in China for the crew as much as possible."

Staff are likely not China recorded its first suspected cases of the coronavirus in Wuhan at some point in December, while Hong Kong documented the first confirmed case on 22 January. However, Cathay Dragon did not take measures to suspend flights between Wuhan and Hong Kong until 24 January.