Cathay Pacific crew 'may stop smiling'

Cathay Pacific's cabin crew are threatening industrial action over pay that may see them stop smiling and serving food and alcohol to passengers.

They have been offered a 2% pay rise, but are seeking 5%.

Shukor Yusof, an aviation analyst with Standard & Poor's Equity Research, says the management are unlikely to give in to the demands, despite the airline's closely-guarded reputation for service.

If staff go through with the action, Cathay may lose out to low cost competitors in the region, Mr Yusof suggests.