This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Published on August 14, 2019, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific airline has been caught in the crossfire of the city's ongoing crisis.
More than 10 weeks of demonstrations have wracked the semi-autonomous city, with millions taking to the streets to demand democratic reforms and police accountability.
Over the past week, Cathay Pacific has emerged as a target on the mainland after some of its 27,000-strong workforce took part in or voiced support for the protests.
China's aviation regulator demanded that the airline prevent such staff from working on flights to the mainland or those routed through Chinese airspace.
The regulator also ordered the carrier to hand over identity information for employees on mainland-bound flights, declaring that unapproved flights would not be allowed.
Executives scrambled to reassure authorities that the company has no truck with the demonstrators, vowing to sack any employee who takes part in an 'illegal protest.'
However, the move was not enough to avoid the crosshairs of China's staunchly nationalist Global Times tabloid and the People's Daily, the Communist Party's mouthpiece.
The papers said that Cathay's 'sins' were that it had not done enough to investigate or condemn staff who took part in protests.
China's heavily censored social media platforms lit up with indignation from people vowing never to fly Cathay again.
On China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, the hashtag #boycottcathaypacificairline had racked up nearly 45 million views by Wednesday.
A protester blockade of the airport this week deepened the airline's woes, forcing it to cancel 272 flights and affecting the travel plans of 55,000 people.
Analysts said Cathay is acutely vulnerable to any potential censure from Beijing, with the company heavily reliant on the mainland Chinese market.
"They are so heavily reliant on the mainland Chinese market," noted Brendan Sobie, chief analyst for the Centre for Aviation.
The pressure sent Cathay's shares into a nosedive, losing nearly five percent at the start of the week.
Swire Pacific, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate and Cathay's largest shareholder, released a statement saying it 'strongly supports' the Hong Kong government and 'shares the vision of the Chinese Central government.'
"We resolutely support the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Chief Executive and the Police in their efforts to restore law and order," the company said.
However, the airline has hardly endeared itself to the protest movement, which enjoys a measure of support among the seven million people who call Hong Kong home.
One cartoon that summed up protester sentiment and quickly went viral was drawn by Australia-based Chinese dissident artist Badiucao.
In it, he renamed the airline Cathay Pathetic, with the opening C turned into a communist hammer and sickle.
