Cathay Pacific has signed MOUs with both the Civil Aviation University of China and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China as it seeks to recruit new hires from the Chinese Mainland.

The move comes after the airline declared in August that now is the ‘right time’ to be recruiting from the mainland, citing the number of flights inside China, as well as the growing number of Putonghua-speaking customers. The airline has launched a ‘Chinese Mainland Talent Recruitment Plan’ and has set itself a target of 200-300 cabin crew from the country this year, and 100-2000 by 2025. There will also be the opportunity to apply for ground-based jobs at future hiring events.

READ: Cathay to recruit cabin crew from mainland China

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.”

Cathay 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. Future plans include a target 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.