"Planners looking for 18, yes 18, blokes to work o/t tonight, no takers.
Clearly overstaffed alright."
We were doing the same thing in 1989, the solution was then as it is now, that is, get rid of maintenance intensive aircraft and replace them with new aircraft which come with a maintenance honeymoon.
This will happen but unfortunately it would seem that all those brand spankers will be painted silver.