Cathay Pacific Issues Apology Following Allegations of Discrimination by Passenger

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd issued an apology following a passenger’s allegation of discriminatory treatment by its flight attendants towards non-English speakers. This incident drew criticism from China’s state media, which accused the airline of excessively favoring foreigners.

Expressing deep regret, Cathay Pacific acknowledged the distress caused to passengers aboard flight CX987 from Chengdu to Hong Kong, stating that it had sparked widespread concern. The airline offered a sincere apology for the incident and took immediate action.

“We have suspended the flight attendants involved and initiated an internal investigation,” stated Cathay Pacific. The airline emphasized its commitment to addressing any instances of inappropriate behavior or remarks that violate its regulations and professional standards. It assured that upon confirmation, such matters would be treated with utmost seriousness.

Cathay Pacific

Passengers on the flight from Chengdu to the global financial hub were able to overhear flight attendants complaining about them in both English and Cantonese, as shared in an online post by one of the passengers. According to the post, the flight attendants mocked individuals who requested a carpet instead of a blanket in English. The online post also included a widely circulated recording where a flight attendant was heard saying, “If you can’t say ‘blanket’ in English, you can’t have it…the carpet is on the floor, feel free to lie on it.” The authenticity of the recording could not be verified by Reuters, but it sparked criticism on social media platforms.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hong Kong’s flagship carrier has been working towards rebuilding the airline. The company faced significant challenges due to flight cancellations, border closures, and stringent quarantine measures for the crew, leading to substantial workforce reductions since 2020.

In an online commentary, China’s state-owned People’s Daily expressed its shock at the incident involving Mandarin-speaking passengers and criticized Cathay Pacific’s corporate culture for its preference towards foreigners and lack of respect towards Mainlanders.

The commentary emphasized the need for Cathay Pacific to take more substantial action rather than just offering apologies. It suggested implementing strict rules and regulations to address the issue and eliminate the root causes of this unhealthy trend.

The newspaper also noted that the proficiency level of Mandarin in Hong Kong is experiencing significant improvement, advancing rapidly. It predicted that the prevailing trend of favoring English over Mandarin and looking down on the latter would inevitably fade away in Hong Kong.

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