Plans by Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways to slash flights during the busy Chinese New Year period show the airline needs to address its capacity problems, the city's leader said. 

John Lee said Hong Kong's government was "very concerned" about the situation and had already communicated with Cathay's management to ensure passengers suffer minimal inconveniences.

"Cathay must face up to these problems seriously," he told a weekly media briefing, adding that Hong Kong needs to rebuild its aviation capacity quickly.

Cathay, which said in November it intended to recruit 5,000 more staff during 2024, drastically cut headcount in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and changed staff contract terms and conditions.

Cathay's passenger business is now staffed by 58 percent of the pilots it had before the pandemic, the union said last month.

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