Cathay cancels flights

Cathay cancels flights

HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Cathay Pacific Airways blamed a rise in the number of pilots calling in sick for the cancellation of eight flights Friday, amid an ongoing labor dispute with its pilots.

In a statement issued late Friday, the airline said it canceled round-trip flights between Hong Kong and Sydney, Hong Kong and Jakarta, Vancouver and New York and between Hong Kong and Cebu, in the Philippines. Two flights were canceled Thursday.

Cathay Pacific pilots launched a "work-to-rule" campaign in early July, aimed at disrupting flights without breaking regulations after negotiations over pay, scheduling problems and working conditions fell apart.

The Aircrew Officers Association, which represents about 1,300 of Cathay's 1500 pilots, will hold a meeting next Wednesday to decide whether to escalate the industrial action.