The last week has been very dynamic. We had to deal with the suspension of Hong Kong layovers and the Quarantine situation in Hong Kong and monitored the developments in Azerbaijan in relation to Baku layovers. Please find a very brief update of the situation as of Friday late evening, October 2nd.
Hong Kong layovers
We have been contacted by many members who had been still scheduled for a layover in HKG after the CEO’s email regarding the “suspension of Hong Kong layovers”. As explained before we have been in contact with the CEO and pointed out your concerns. Unfortunately, and as a matter of fact, such changes are hard to make at very short notice, especially if one considers how many flights per week are routed via Hong Kong.
We do understand that by now all changes have been incorporated and that until further notice no crew layovers will take place in Hong Kong. Please get in touch with us immediately, if this should change, keeping in mind that in case of an AOG in Hong Kong the crew would most likely not be able to avoid laying over in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, suspending layovers in Hong Kong results in more and longer flight duty periods involving augmented crews.
Quarantine situation in Hong Kong
We can report that we kept close contact with all – since Thursday – four colleagues currently quarantined or hospitalized in Hong Kong and that support on site is being provided by our colleagues from the Hong Kong Airline Pilots Association (HKALPA).
As communicated before, we have reached out to Luxembourg’s government asking for support, by addressing the issue in letters with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister. We are aware that the same has been done by the CEO. It’s too early to tell if this would help in providing any form of relief to our colleagues currently confined in a quarantine centre.
Baku layovers
We started monitoring the developments in Azerbaijan early last week, when we became aware about the first reports concerning the increased tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We were contacted by concerned members who were on layover in Baku, at the time a curfew was announced by the Azeri government, reporting e.g. that communication channels (internet) became limited.
We did reach out to Senior Management to ask if the situation is monitored and if management considers avoiding stops in Baku. Senior Management informed us, that the situation would be monitored and that necessary steps would be taken if needed.
As Representatives we appreciate management’s proactive decision to temporary suspend operations into Baku as announced late afternoon on Friday, October 2nd.
