1.   Last month, the ALPA said it voted to reject a tentative agreement reached with Federal Express in March on a new pilots contract.

2.   The Atlanta airline, which had forecast the loss, blamed the slowing economy and labor troubles tied to its unsettled pilots contract.

3.   The existing pilots contract prohibits flex scheduling while any pilot is laid off.

4.   Cathay has denied the sackings were linked to union membership and said their actions were legal in Hong Kong and in accordance with the pilots contracts.