Hong Kong - Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific was Tuesday facing a potential 13-million-US-dollar payout to cabin crew after losing a court case over unpaid holiday pay.

Three flight attendants won a test case at a Labour Tribunal hearing which said they were entitled to a total of 14,000 US dollars in additional holiday pay from 2002 to 2008.

Another 4,000 similar claims are now pending which if won could lead to a combined total of more than 13 million US dollars, according to the territory's Flight Attendants Union.

At the tribunal hearing Monday, officials ruled that Cathay Pacific should give additional allowances in holiday pay to cabin crew to cover the time spent at overseas ports.

Cathay Pacific said after the hearing it intended to take the case to a higher court to contest the finding and said any future claims would also be contested.

The tribunal defeat comes at a time when the flagship Hong Kong airline is struggling with falling revenues, lower passenger numbers and heavy losses on fuel hedging in 2007.

Cathay Pacific carried 23.5 million passengers and 1.6 million tons of cargo in 2007. (dpa)