Hong Kong's Dragonair announced senior management changes today as the embattled airline attempts to address cockpit crew rostering concerns that have reportedly seen an exodus of pilots and caused many flight delays.

The airline's CEO Kenny Tang said the appointments were part of an ongoing process of integration and strengthening of the airline's flight operations management since Dragonair became part of the Cathay Pacific Group last year.

"The first two phases of this integration involved areas such as operations control, dispatch and performance engineering," Tang said.

"This latest phase focuses on crew rostering and will assist us in addressing the concerns of our cockpit crew over rostering practices, which we accept is a top priority."

Captain Richard Hall, general manager flying at Cathay Pacific Airways, has been appointed general manager operations of Dragonair.

He will replace Captain Tim Watts, who will resume flying duties with Dragonair, and take up a base in the United Kingdom early in 2008. He will officially stand down from his current post on December 31.

In the meantime, Hall will transfer to Dragonair as general manager operations-designate with immediate effect.

In a further appointment, Dennis Leung, scheduling manager integrated crew management (ICM) at Cathay Pacific, has been appointed to a new post of manager ICM at Dragonair, and will be responsible for crew planning, crew rostering and crew control with a direct reporting line to Hall.

This follows the recent appointment of Captain Geoff Marinko, flying training manager Airbus at Cathay Pacific, who became the chief pilot Airbus at Dragonair from October 1.

Hall was for seven years fleet manager or chief pilot Airbus at Cathay Pacific and was for 18 months chief pilot of the airline's Boeing 747-400 fleet.

"This experience on both types of aircraft operated by Dragonair makes him an ideal appointment," said Tang.

Leung has been involved in crew control and crew scheduling management at Cathay Pacific for 20 years and his experience will be invaluable in tackling crew scheduling issues at Dragonair, Tang added.