Why couldn’t Jet2 offer their pilots a 5/4 in winter instead of a random roster, if everyone is on standby?
I think the simple answer is they would rather most crew took part time options over winter months.
Some of the options are attractive - 80% pay deal (really 90% pay since half of that lost income would go on tax anyway, and still 100% towards pension etc) for 4 months completely off. If you tag your annual leave, 5 full months off roster. Is this still offered?
The minimum days off deal has been around in the charter airline business for years. Operational flexibility. Airport standby in UK when all aircraft are on the deck in the canaries or turkey on turnaround could become frustrating I guess.