Beijing first stop as Cathay launches global drive to hire 3,000 workers

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways plans to hire 3,000 employees globally this year, including pilots and flight attendants, to support its growth plan, with the airline expressing strong confidence in its future expansion potential.The carrier launched its global recruitment drive in Beijing on Saturday as part of efforts to attract more talent from mainland China to support its future development plans, including promoting inbound tourism.Currently, the company has more than 33,000 employees from over 70 countries and regions, including over 4,000 from the mainland – among whom around 800 are flight attendants. Cathay started recruiting on the mainland in 2023, and hired about 1,000 employees from there last year.The 3,000 vacancies it intends to fill this year include pilots, flight attendants, engineers and digital positions.“The mainland is our most important talent source outside Hong Kong. As this year marks the airline’s 80th anniversary, we would like to launch our recruitment drive in the capital,” Patricia Hwang, director of people at Cathay Group, said in Beijing.“We have strengthened our cooperation with the mainland Chinese talent market over the past few years, and established partnerships with many mainland universities and institutions.”Ron Chan, a Cathay Pacific flying training manager responsible for interviewing applicants, said the airline would consider hiring more pilots if candidates were outstanding.