I know lots of guys at Delta and the other majors who couldn’t get hired at EK & CX ten years ago - doesn’t mean I’ll go on Airline Pilot Central and shout “ the only reason you’re there is you couldn’t get on here” because I’d sound like a DB, you know the type - Airbubba
I don’t know many Americans stuck at EK. I do know some guys who are exclusively looking at one or two carriers and either the interview didn’t work out or they are waiting for that one carrier, which would not be my game plan if I decided to return, but we are all different. There are tons of jobs in US if one really wants to get back, hit the roadshows etc.
With all of the above said in no way can anyone speak for the entire group of Americans (263) at EK - no shortage of that from the usual suspects as always.