Cathay Pacific Falls in Line With China as Hong Kong Airport Protests Turn Violent

U.S. and European consumers now expect trusted brands to question home governments when employees and customers demand it, as when several U.S. carriers told the Trump Administration to stop using their planes to separate immigrant families. But Hong Kong is no ordinary market, and Cathay Pacific is not like a typical North American or European travel company so don't expect it to take a stand in favor of Hong Kong autonomy, even as violence erupts at its home airport. This is about Mainland China, and Cathay Pacific needs to coexist with its Chinese regulator to remain a viable entity. It requires Chinese support not only to access markets — the carrier flies to 22 mainland cities, and flies 19 times per day to Shanghai — but also to fly over its airspace. Most logical air routes from the United States to Hong Kong overfly Mainland China, and the airline would be crippled if it lost overflight rights. "You can't simply tell your regulator that 'no, sorry, We don't really