HONG KONG, June 19 (Reuters) - Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) said on Monday it would in July launch initiatives to improve Mandarin language and cultural understanding, including hiring cabin staff from mainland China, after three crew were fired over discrimination.
The move came weeks after Cathay Pacific fired three flight attendants following passenger accusations of bias against non-English speakers, prompting criticism on Chinese state media.
The discrimination incident in May went viral on mainland Chinese social media platforms and prompted a torrent of criticism by Chinese state media and Hong Kong government officials, including leader John Lee.
At the time, a passenger on a flight from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu to Hong Kong wrote in an online post that flight attendants complained among themselves about passengers in English and Cantonese.
They said the flight attendants made fun of others for asking for a carpet instead of a blanket in English.
Persons:
Ronald Lam, John Lee, Twinnie Siu, Farah, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, HK, Reuters, Cathay, Cathay Pacific, Thomson
Locations:
HONG KONG, China, Hong Kong, Chengdu