Pilots and cabin crew at Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific are describing a climate of "white terror", a popular Hong Kong expression used to describe anonymous acts that create a climate of fear.

This was after after pressure from Chinese authorities forced the airline to fire several staff, including their ex-CEO, according to Reuters

Series of firings

On Aug. 9, China's aviation regulator demanded the suspension of Cathay staff that were involved in the protest movement.

These staff would not be allowed to fly into China's airspace, and the aviation authority required the airline to provide identification information for all crew on mainland-bound flights.

In response, the airline suspended a pilot that was charged with rioting on Aug. 10, and two ground employees were also fired for misconduct.

The airline's ex-CEO Rupert Hogg also resigned on Aug. 16, amidst a controversy brought about by the protests.

Hogg was seen as a well-liked leader who enacted many positive changes during his two-year tenure as CEO, and many observers saw the shock resignation as a way to appease Chinese officials in Beijing.

Chinese inspectors checking crew's phones

However, these moves were not enough to pull Cathay out of trouble.

Chinese authorities continue to demand crew lists for all Cathay flights that go over mainland Chinese airspace, and airline staff claimed that they have been subjected to intrusive inspections upon landing.

These included inspectors checking the phones of the pilots and cabins crews, and went as far as checking WhatsApp messages and photo albums, according to Reuters.

This was done to ensure that none of the crew possessed any sort of anti-Chinese materials.

Cathay "needs to please China"

The firing of pilots and Hogg's abrupt resignation was seen as a way to appease China, and staff were initially indignant.

However, the staff later realised the pressure that the airline is facing, and began to feel sympathetic, noting that the airline "needs to please China".

Several Cathay staff interviewed by Reuters said that many crew members were actively avoiding Chinese routes, and some have voiced out their fear that what they say may be relayed to Chinese authorities.

Many crew members avoid voicing out their stance regarding the protests in public, given the large number of Chinese tourists on the airline.

Staff calling for silence and cooperation

Many airline staff understand the pressure that the airline is facing from Chinese authorities, and are pleading for silence and cooperation.

They believe that the best way for the company to move forward and for staff to retain their jobs is to compromise and ride out the storm together.

Comments made on employee Facebook page CX Secrets echo these sentiments.

Many of the comments claim that the airline is one large family, and the airline needs to stand united to show the world that Cathay remains a world-class airline.

Top image from Cathay Pacific.