Cathay Pacific to add 2,300 staff this year

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Asia's No 5 carrier by market value, plans to add 2,300 new staff this year, more than last year's increase, Chairman Christopher Pratt said on Wednesday.   

The airline added 1,600 employees last year and had a total staff strength of 27,500 at the end of 2010, executives said during a news conference after announcing its financial results.   

Cathay also planned to hedge between 20 and 30% of the oil it uses over a one-to-three-year period, executives said during the news conference.