Cathay Pacific offers help to stranded OFWs in Hong Kong

MANILA, Philippines — Cathay Pacific Airways announced it is ready to assist overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong who are left stranded after discovering that the air tickets they paid for do not exist.

“For Filipino friends affected by the issues related to a HK travel agent not affiliated with us, we stand ready to help as much as we can,” Cathay posted on its Twitter account Tuesday, urging the OFWs to contact them for concerns.

For Filipino friends affected by the issues related to a HK travel agent not affiliated with us, we stand ready to help as much as we can. Please DM us.

— Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) December 19, 2017

According to a report from South China Morning Post, the Hong Kong’s flagship airline offered “distress fares” to fill the few remaining seats available.

But Cathay’s plans are “still fluid” as the airline “remained cautious not to over-promise on expectations,” The Post noted.

Philstar.com reached out to Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia to see if there are similar offers to affected OFWs who booked flights in their airlines but they have yet to respond.

Upset domestic workers in Hong Kong worry they might not return home for Christmas and New Year after they found out that the air tickets they bought through agency Peya Travel cannot be confirmed.

READ: Hong Kong OFWs in uproar over non-existent airline tickets

They trooped to Peya Travel’s office in Worldwide Building in Central demanding explanations, refunds and rebooking alternatives.

A video published by a Filipino community news site in Hong Kong also showed domestic workers lamenting that they do not have money to book new flights. 

The Philippine Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong said it is “deeply concerned” over the incident and asked the OFWs to “maintain sobriety and calmly liaise with Peya Travel.”

The Consulate also called on Peya Travel to honor its responsibilities to the customers and settle the matter.

Philstar.com sought Peya Travel, which is popular among Filipino workers in Hong Kong, for comment but it has not responded yet.

In a Facebook post, the agency apologized for the fiasco and ask for the understanding of OFWs.

According to the latest data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, there were 85,704 Filipino workers deployed in Hong Kong in 2015. Of that number, 57,703 were rehires, or had previously worked in Hong Kong.