Cathay Pacific is working with Airbus to introduce reduced crew long-haul flights with a sole pilot in the cockpit much of the time, industry sources said.
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.
Cathay Pacific working with Airbus on single-pilot system for long-haul flights
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Exclusive: Cathay working with Airbus on single-pilot system for long-haul
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