Witnessed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong and Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) Deputy Administrator Cui Xiaofeng, Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam exchanged the MOUs with CAUC President Ding Shuiting and CAFUC President Guan Lixin during a ceremony held at the Asia Pacific Region Innovation & Capacity Building Symposium 2023, jointly organised by the CAAC, the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong (CAD), and the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA).

Currently, the civil aviation industry is experiencing a significant rebound as it enters a phase of comprehensive recovery. With the increasing demand for talent and high-quality development in the industry, it is of the utmost importance to establish a strong foundation for the future talent pipeline. Cathay Pacific strives to develop new aviation talent and has played an important role in training generations of aviation professionals over the years as part of its ongoing commitment to fostering youth development.

Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer Ronald Lam said: “Cathay Pacific has been relentlessly focused on rebuilding connectivity between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, reflecting our ongoing commitment to supporting the 14th Five-Year Plan and integrating into the national development. We are delighted to collaborate with two esteemed higher-education institutions under the direct administration of the CAAC. This partnership aims to provide robust talent support for the high-quality development of the civil aviation industry in the Chinese Mainland.

“Furthermore, we aim to leverage the reputation and resources of the two universities to attract a greater number of talented individuals from the Chinese Mainland. This will further exemplify Cathay's distinct position of being backed by the Chinese Mainland as our homeland and our unwavering dedication to this important market. We look forward to welcoming more exceptional aviation talent from the Chinese Mainland to join Cathay.”

CAUC President Ding Shuiting said: ”CAUC and Cathay Pacific have a long-standing and solid history of cooperation, and we have consistently maintained a positive collaborative relationship. We are delighted to have recently signed an MOU with Cathay Pacific, marking a significant milestone and elevating our collaboration to new heights. We look forward to engaging in comprehensive and profound cooperation with the airline in the domains of talent development, academic exchanges, technological innovation, and sustainable development. Together, our goal is to cultivate high-calibre talent with scientific and technological innovation, professional expertise, and an international outlook. We are committed to contributing to the development of the civil aviation industry in the Chinese Mainland.”

CAFUC President Guan Lixin said: ”We are pleased to have signed this MOU with Cathay Pacific, outlining our shared intentions for collaboration in talent development, staff training, campus recruitment, and formulating measures to implement various collaborative projects. Through this partnership, we aim to fully utilise CAFUC's expertise in cultivating civil aviation talent to effectively support the Hong Kong SAR Government's Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and contribute to the recovery and development of the civil aviation industry in Hong Kong.”

Under the MOUs, Cathay Pacific will explore innovative approaches for training and developing professionals in various sectors of civil aviation, including flying, inflight services, engineering, airport operations, technology and more with each of the universities. Dedicated scholarships will be established to encourage and support more young people from the Chinese Mainland in contributing their expertise and abilities to the development of the aviation industry. In addition, they will strengthen their cooperation in the realms of technology and innovation by facilitating resource sharing and leveraging their strengths to advance civil aviation research and development.

Cathay Pacific will also actively engage in on-campus recruitment and offer internships to enhance university students' understanding of the operation and development trends in the aviation industry. The airline will also welcome experts, professors, technicians, and students from both institutions to visit its Hong Kong headquarters, Cathay City, to share knowledge and experience, fostering the exchange of aviation talent between Hong Kong SAR and the Chinese Mainland.

Furthermore, Cathay Pacific will collaborate with CAUC in the field of sustainable aviation development. Leveraging the university's expertise and accomplishments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), both parties will join forces to explore new SAF technologies and the feasibility of commercialising SAF feedstocks through project research, case study competitions, and regular exchanges of technology and personnel.

Cathay Pacific places significant emphasis on the importance of the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong market. Leveraging its advantages of being proudly rooted in Hong Kong, backed by the Chinese Mainland and connecting the world, the airline has actively implemented various recruitment initiatives in the Chinese Mainland, establishing a more diverse service team to provide excellent and caring service consistently to its customers.

Cathay Pacific recently launched its first cabin crew recruitment event in the Chinese Mainland at the Qianhai International Talent Hub in Shenzhen in August this year and opened recruitment to cadet pilots from the Chinese Mainland for the first time. Moving forward, the Cathay Group will continue to expand and attract talent from the Chinese Mainland, targeting to recruit around 4,000 people by 2025 including cabin crew, cadet pilots, IT professionals, ground employees and customer service officers.

Cathay Pacific currently operates more than 170 return flights per week to 16 airports in 15 cities in the Chinese Mainland, connecting it and Hong Kong with the rest of the world. The airline is also committed to providing a wide range of intermodal services, including air, sea and land options, to enable travellers from the Greater Bay Area to more seamlessly connect to the world via their Cathay Pacific flights at Hong Kong International Airport.