Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways has banned a couple for harassing a mainland Chinese woman who refused to put up her reclined seat.

Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has banned two passengers from its flights after an argument over seat-reclining etiquette descended into xenophobic insults.

Airline Cathay Pacific has bought back all warrants issued to the Hong Kong government in 2020, another step in repaying the government for a pandemic-related recapitalisation package, the company said on Friday.

Hong Kong aviation investigators say an engine problem that caused Cathay Pacific to ground its entire fleet of Airbus A350 jets for inspection earlier this month could have escalated into “extensive damage.

To recline or not to recline? Seat-reclining etiquette on planes has long been the subject of debate, but an argument over reclining seats between three passengers on Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific escalated into xenophobic insults.

Cathay Pacific has banned a Hong Kong couple from its flights after their row with a mainland Chinese traveller over her reclining seat. The Chinese woman had complained on social media that she was harassed by the couple seated behind her on a Cathay flight after reclining her seat.

It’s the ultimate tension at the heart of air travel – how far can you recline your seat without irritating the passenger behind?

Cathay Pacific has banned two passengers after a flight altercation over seat-reclining escalated into xenophobic insults. A mainland Chinese passenger shared her experience, highlighting the tensions between Hong Kong and mainland China amid ongoing debates about plane etiquette.