Waterbottle - without a doubt there is a element of recovering the money lost over the S/O pay debacle, it was the ultimate own goal on the company’s part, but I do think they realise there is a genuine supply issue.
154 to answer your S/O question...
Brakerider - who has said that a Cathay S/O is more qualified than a Propstar Dash pilot?
Kiwi - “external” = overseas I would have thought, not external to the AirNZ group.