Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways is being forced to deal with a rash of thefts from its planes - by its own people.
The airline is cracking down on amenities being stolen and searching flight crew members leaving the aircraft after what it says is the loss of "hundreds of millions of dollars" worth of products over a number of years.
Those products include everything from company pens to utensils, wine glasses, food and even bottles of alcohol.
"In view of an increasing number of reported losses of company property, we have informed our cabin crew that random inspections will be carried out," a company spokeswoman said.
"We are dealing with cases in a fair and reasonable manner in accordance with standard internal procedure."
Several Cathay Pacific employees were caught with merchandise over the weekend and are being investigated.
Apparently, the airline had warned its workers about the thefts as far back as January, when it sent an internal email.
Ed Higgs, general manager of in-flight services for Cathay-Pacific, said employees would be inspected by a security team on leaving an aircraft "for any items that you may have in your possession when you have been or are on company property. Zero tolerance means you are not permitted to take off the aircraft any item other than what the company has authorized as per the policy. If anyone removes company property, irrespective of the value or if you believe it will be thrown away, you will be subject to discipline which may include termination."
Cathay Pacific Flight Attendants Union chairwoman Vera Wu Yee-mei, said she understands theft was a breach of company policy.
"All staff understand there is a policy posted very clearly on the company intranet," she said. "You would be putting your career in a very risky position, just for water, bread or a pen."
However, she did say she was concerned about how the post-flight searches will be conducted for the more than 7,000 flight attendants her union represents.
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