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Qatar Airways vs Cathay Pacific

Cabin crew requirements, salary, and hiring process — Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific compared side by side, so you know exactly which one fits before you apply.

FieldQatar AirwaysCathay Pacific
Base / hubDoha, QatarHong Kong
Minimum age21+ at the time of joining18+ at the time of application
EducationHigh school graduate minimum; a diploma or degree strengthens the applicationHigh school diploma or equivalent
English requirementFluent English; additional languages (especially Mandarin, Arabic, or European languages) are a strong plusFluent English required; at least one Asian language is also required
Tattoo policyNo visible tattoos in the female or male uniform, including short sleeves
Swim requirementMust be able to swim and pass the water-safety training componentMust be able to swim 50 metres
MedicalFit-for-flying medical clearance required before a final offerFit-for-flying medical clearance, including sight and hearing tests
Height / reach notesArm reach of 212 cm on tiptoes is the operative test — Qatar Airways does not publish a fixed height minimum.No published height minimum — a 208 cm arm-reach test on tiptoes (barefoot) is the operative test.
Basic salaryQAR 4,000–4,500 basicHK$9,000–10,000 basic
Flying payFlying-hour pay on top of basic, scales with seniorityReported HK$65–75 per block hour
Per diemTax-free per-diem on layoversIncluded in total range below for international layovers
AccommodationFree shared accommodation in Doha + airport transport
Total take-homeRoughly QAR 9,000–11,500/month tax-free for junior cabin crew, all-inReported total roughly HK$17,000–24,000/month for junior crew
TaxQatar has no personal income tax on this income.Hong Kong income tax applies — figures above are gross.
Hiring cadenceOpen days run periodically across major source markets, often several per quarterRecruitment runs via the Cathay Pacific careers portal, including overseas intakes
Hiring statusRecruitment volume tracks Qatar Airways' fleet growth — check the calendar below for current dates.Hires both Hong Kong-based and overseas-applicant cabin crew separately, with a distinct multi-stage online screening before any in-person assessment day.

Figures reviewed August 2026 · confirm exact numbers on each airline’s careers page before applying.

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