Cathay Pacific to carry out random inspections on staff following reports of missing items

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has warned it will carry out random inspections of its staff after reports that items such as bottles of champagne and ice cream have gone missing from its aircraft.

Items such as Haagen-Dazs ice cream, bottles of champagne and cutlery are among the items that are reported to have disappeared from its planes. 

This morning the airline's chief executive, Rupert Hogg, said the "pilferage issue" may not be down to cabin crew but admitted that it was losing items such as wine from the aircraft or in the supply chain.

Hogg told the BBC: "We've got support from the unions to do this, let's try to stamp this out."

In a statement, a Cathay Pacific spokesperson said: "In view of an increasing number of reported losses of company property, we have informed our cabin crew that random inspections will be carried out. We are dealing with cases in a fair and reasonable manner in accordance with standard internal procedure."

Over the weekend the South China Morning Post reported that six employees have been placed under investigation after security spot checks were carried out at Hong Kong's International Airport. Those in question face possible sanctions.

The newspaper also reported that staff were warned earlier in the year by email that there would be a "zero tolerance" policy if staff were caught removing items from its aircraft.

The email stated that employees were only allowed to take items from planes for personal consumption and would be punished for taking items in any other circumstances.