A Cathay Pacific aircraft is seen in front of an air traffic control tower at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong, China October 24 2020. R

EXCLUSIVE Cathay working with Airbus on single-pilot system for long-haul

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2021-06-22 10:00:14

A Cathay Pacific aircraft is seen in front of an air traffic control tower at the Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong, China October 24 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo

PARIS, June 16 (Reuters) - Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) is working with Airbus (AIR.PA) to introduce "reduced crew" long-haul flights with a sole pilot in the cockpit much of the time, industry sources told Reuters.

The programme, known within Airbus as Project Connect, aims to certify its A350 jet for single-pilot operations during high-altitude cruise, starting in 2025 on Cathay passenger flights, the sources said.

High hurdles remain on the path to international acceptance. Once cleared, longer flights would become possible with a pair of pilots alternating rest breaks, instead of the three or four currently needed to maintain at least two in the cockpit.

That promises savings for airlines, amid uncertainty over the post-pandemic economics of intercontinental flying. But it is likely to encounter resistance from pilots already hit by mass layoffs, and safety concerns about aircraft automation.