Cabin Crew & Pilot Jobs Hong Kong 2027: Requirements & Airlines

To be cabin crew with a Hong Kong airline you generally need to be 18 or over, reach 208cm on tiptoe, have finished secondary school and speak English plus at least one other language. Cathay Pacific asks only for the right to work in Hong Kong and does not require Cantonese, while HK Express asks for right of abode and Putonghua, and Greater Bay Airlines asks for fluent Cantonese. Cathay's Cadet Pilot Programme takes applicants with zero flying hours and trains them over about 80 weeks, and direct entry first officers need at least 1,500 hours. Hiring is strong: Hong Kong International Airport handled 61 million passengers in 2025 and Cathay plans 3,000 hires in 2026.

This guide compares the four Hong Kong airlines' cabin crew requirements, the selection process, contracts and pay, pilot routes, airport jobs and the visa question for foreign applicants. If you are new to the job market here, our guide to finding a job in Hong Kong as a foreigner covers the basics.

Are Hong Kong Airlines Hiring in 2027?

Yes. Traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) keeps growing. The Airport Authority reported 61 million passengers and 394,730 flights in 2025, up 15% and 8.7% on 2024, and 32.8 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up another 11.7%.

Capacity is growing too. The Three-Runway System was commissioned on 28 November 2024, and the Airport Authority's target is 120 million passengers a year in about a decade. Terminal 2 has been opening in phases.

The airlines are hiring to match. Cathay Pacific told The Standard in May 2026 that it plans to hire 3,000 people this year, including flight attendants and cadet pilots. At the HKIA Expo and Career Fair in May 2026, about 40 employers offered more than 4,400 openings, according to the Airport Authority.

If you're looking for English-speaking jobs in Hong Kong while you apply, check out ExpatJobBoard.com. We list thousands of jobs that don't require Cantonese or Mandarin.

Cabin Crew Requirements: The Four Hong Kong Airlines Compared

Source: each airline's careers page, checked October 2026 (Cathay Pacific Hong Kong recruitment, HK Express job 498117, Greater Bay Airlines cabin crew page). Hong Kong Airlines' cabin crew page could not be checked.

Cathay Pacific: the most open to foreigners

Cathay's Hong Kong-based flight attendant role asks for the right to work in Hong Kong, age 18 or over, high school graduation and an arm reach of 208cm on tiptoe. There is no minimum height. You need written and spoken English plus one of Cantonese, Putonghua, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese or Sinhala, with Putonghua listed as an advantage.

Cathay's FAQ says directly that you don't need Cantonese. You can skip its English test with a TOEIC Listening and Reading score of 325 or more, or IELTS Academic 6.0.

Older Cathay pages still say you need permanent residency and HKCEE grades. The current careers site has replaced that with the right to work in Hong Kong.

HK Express and Greater Bay Airlines

HK Express's flight attendant ads ask for right of abode in Hong Kong, age 18 or over, a 208cm reach and HKCEE Grade E or HKDSE Level 2 in English and Chinese, with spoken English and Chinese including Putonghua. Benefits include free flights for staff, friends and family.

Greater Bay Airlines asks for a 208cm reach, Level 2 in five HKDSE subjects including English (or five HKCEE passes), and fluent English and Cantonese with the ability to read and write Chinese. Putonghua, Japanese or Korean is a plus.

In short, Cathay is the realistic option for non-Chinese speakers, and HK Express is effectively closed to people without right of abode.

What Is the Cathay Pacific Cabin Crew Interview Process?

According to Cathay's careers FAQ, selection runs in four stages:

1. Video interview and language assessment.
2. Group assessment, where recruiters watch how you work in a team.
3. Final interview.
4. Medical examination, including the Civil Aviation Department's drug test.

You also need to pass a background check. If you are unsuccessful, Cathay asks you to wait three months before reapplying for its Mainland-recruited roles; HK Express asks for six months.

Do you need to be able to swim?

Not to apply. Cathay says not being a confident swimmer "will not impact your application", but training includes water drills, so practise before you start.

Is Cabin Crew a Permanent Job in Hong Kong?

At Cathay, new Hong Kong-based flight attendants start on a three-year contract, after which Cathay may offer a continuing contract, according to its FAQ. Other airlines vary, so ask at interview.

How Much Do Cabin Crew Earn in Hong Kong?

None of the four airlines publishes cabin crew pay. Pay is usually a base salary plus flying allowances per hour, layover allowances and benefits such as staff travel and medical cover, and it varies by airline, base and seniority. Numbers you see online are mostly unsourced, so treat any figure that isn't in a written offer with caution.

For context, the overall median monthly wage in Hong Kong was HK$21,200 in May to June 2025, according to the Census and Statistics Department. Our fresh graduate salary guide shows how entry-level pay compares across industries.

Hong Kong Airlines' benefits for pilots, for comparison, include 35 days' leave including statutory holidays and a child education allowance, according to its careers page.

How to Become a Pilot in Hong Kong

There are two main routes: train as a cadet or join as a qualified pilot.

The Cathay Cadet Pilot Programme

According to Cathay's careers page, you need:

• Age 18 or over.
• Secondary school education with good passes in English and Maths or a Science subject.
• The right to live and work in Hong Kong or the Mainland. Cathay says IANG and TTPS holders are welcome to apply.
• ICAO English Level 4.
• A Civil Aviation Department Class 1 medical.
• No flying experience. Zero hours is fine.

Training takes about 80 weeks, with ground school in Hong Kong and abroad and flight training in the US or Australia, and Cathay describes it as sponsored. Graduates join as Second Officers. Applications for the Cadet Pilot Programme are open all year.

English test thresholds: IELTS 6.0 (with 6 or more in Listening and Speaking), TOEIC 800 or more, or TOEFL iBT 80 or more for tests taken before 21 January 2026 (the scoring scale changed for tests from that date). Selection includes the English test, a computer-based assessment, interviews, a group exercise and a medical.

Cathay's public pages do not say whether the programme is bonded, so ask before you accept.

Direct entry first officer

Qualified pilots can join Cathay as direct entry first officers. Cathay asks for an ICAO ATPL, or a CPL with MEIR and ATPL credits, at least 1,500 total hours (3,000 preferred) including 500 hours as pilot in command, multi-crew experience and an ICAO Class 1 medical. You may be assigned to the A321neo, A330, A350, B777 or B747 fleet.

Hong Kong Airlines advertises for A320 type-rated first officers with an ATPL or CPL with frozen ATPL, a Class 1 medical, ICAO Level 4 English and 1,000 hours on aircraft over 10,000kg, including 200 on the A320.

Cathay's pilot page also sells the tax angle, and with reason: Hong Kong's salaries tax is capped at a standard rate of 15% on the first HK$5 million of net income, according to the Inland Revenue Department.

Other Airport and Aviation Jobs

Cabin crew and pilots are only part of it. The airport employs ground staff, aircraft engineers, air traffic services, cargo, security, retail and hospitality workers, and the Airport Authority itself had about 70 openings at its 2026 career fair.

Aircraft maintenance is a particular shortage. It is one of the eight trades in the Technical Professionals Stream for non-degree workers launched in 2025, and aviation and shipping is one of the nine segments on the Hong Kong Talent List. See our Talent List guide for the professions covered.

Can Foreigners Become Cabin Crew in Hong Kong?

Yes, at Cathay Pacific, if you have the right to work in Hong Kong. Cathay also runs separate recruitment streams for Mainland and overseas applicants who will be based in Hong Kong, with work permits through ASMTP for Mainland residents or the GEP for others. Its Mainland stream asks for a bachelor's degree, or high school plus a year of crew experience, and lets crew live anywhere in the Greater Bay Area within 90 minutes of the airport.

If you already hold an IANG, TTPS or dependant visa, you can apply directly as you have the right to work. See our Hong Kong work visa guide for the routes.

Tips for Your Application

• Measure your reach properly. 208cm on tiptoe, against a wall, before you apply.
• Get an English test certificate. A TOEIC or IELTS score can save you a stage at Cathay.
• Practise group exercises. Recruiters look for people who listen and include others.
• Apply directly through the airlines' own careers sites rather than through agents.

FAQs: Cabin Crew and Pilot Jobs in Hong Kong

What is the height requirement for Cathay Pacific cabin crew?

There is no minimum height. You need an arm reach of 208cm on tiptoe.

Do I need to speak Cantonese to be cabin crew in Hong Kong?

Not at Cathay Pacific, which needs English plus one of 11 languages. Greater Bay Airlines requires fluent Cantonese, and HK Express requires Chinese including Putonghua.

Can foreigners apply to be cabin crew at Cathay Pacific?

Yes, if you have the right to work in Hong Kong. Cathay also recruits Hong Kong-based crew from the Mainland and overseas with a work permit.

How much do Cathay Pacific flight attendants earn?

Cathay does not publish cabin crew pay. Pay is a base salary plus flying and layover allowances and staff travel benefits.

Is there a swimming test for Cathay cabin crew?

Not at application. Cathay says swimming ability will not affect your application, but training includes water drills.

What is the minimum age for cabin crew in Hong Kong?

18 at Cathay Pacific, HK Express and Greater Bay Airlines.

Is Cathay cabin crew a permanent or contract job?

New Hong Kong-based flight attendants start on a three-year contract, which may be followed by a continuing contract.

Can I join the Cathay Cadet Pilot Programme with no flying experience?

Yes. Zero flying hours is accepted, and training takes about 80 weeks.

How many hours do I need to join Cathay as a first officer?

At least 1,500 total hours, with 3,000 preferred, including 500 as pilot in command, plus an ATPL or a CPL with ATPL credits.

Is the Cathay Cadet Pilot Programme bonded?

Cathay's public pages describe the training as sponsored but do not say whether it is bonded. Ask before accepting an offer.

How busy is Hong Kong airport?

Hong Kong International Airport handled 61 million passengers in 2025 and 32.8 million in the first half of 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Hong Kong airlines generally require cabin crew to be 18 or over with a 208cm reach on tiptoe.
• Cathay Pacific asks for the right to work in Hong Kong and does not require Cantonese.
• HK Express requires right of abode; Greater Bay Airlines requires fluent Cantonese.
• Cathay flight attendants start on a three-year contract.
• The Cathay Cadet Pilot Programme accepts zero flying hours and takes about 80 weeks.
• Direct entry first officers at Cathay need at least 1,500 hours.
• HKIA handled 61 million passengers in 2025, and Cathay plans 3,000 hires in 2026.

Start Your Aviation Career in Hong Kong

With traffic at record highs and a third runway open, airlines and airport employers are hiring. Browse English-speaking roles on ExpatJobBoard.com alongside your airline applications.