Hong Kong Cathay Pacific has offered 27,000 employees a three-week unpaid leave in the context of a corona virus crisis.

"I hope you, from the customer care staff to the senior leaders, will respond and share the current burden with us," Hong Kong Airlines CEO Cathay Pacific Augustus Tang said in a video posted on its website today.

Tang said Cathay Pacific is experiencing "one of the most difficult Tet holidays" because of the corona virus. "We don't know how long it will last. With such uncertain prospects, preserving budgets is now the key to protecting our business," the airline's CEO said.

In today's video, Tang also announced a series of measures to address the airline's crisis, including requiring employees to voluntarily take unpaid leave.

"I understand this is hard to hear. And we may need to take further steps. However, by voluntarily taking unpaid leave, you have helped us in times of need." Message to the staff.

Cathay Pacific director also asked service providers to reduce the cost, adding that the airline will adjust its operating capacity, including reducing flights to mainland China by up to 90%.

Cathay Pacific has been in a constant crisis since last year was hampered by protests in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and now faces an outbreak of acute pneumonia caused by a new strain of corona virus ( nCoV).

The disease, which first appeared in Wuhan city since December 2019, has now spread to 26 countries and territories around the world. To date, the number of deaths due to the epidemic has increased to 492, of which one case in Hong Kong, one in the Philippines, the number of cases increased to 24,551.

Many countries around the world have begun banning entry to foreigners who have been to China and advised their citizens not to come to the country in the wake of an outbreak. Many airlines also canceled flights to China due to a sharp drop in demand and fear of spreading nCoV.

Countries with patients infected with corona virus. Click on the image to see it in full.