How does the COVID-19 pandemic influence travel industry employees in Hong Kong? Structural relationships among airline crew’s job-related stressors, mental health and other consequences

Abstract

ABSTRACT As Hong Kong is an internationally well-known travel destination, airline industry is pivotal in accepting and sending international travellers. The impacts of COVID-19 have drastically devastated airline sector in Hong Kong. It directly leads to unfavourable conditions to airline employees such as job losses or reduced benefits as well as creation of new stressors. This study examined the impacts of Hong Kong airline crew’s job-related stressors and their outcomes. A pool of traditional and the pandemic-triggered stressors were developed. Results of data analyses revealed new stressors resulting from the pandemic: unstable jobs; safety concerns; and hygiene requirements. Interestingly, the unstable job situation positively affected mental health, while safety concerns negatively influenced mental health. Airline crew seemed to feel grateful to retain their jobs in an economic crisis. This study has originality and significant value because it is an initial attempt to empirically test airline crew’s stressors, mental health, and their consequences under the pandemic.