Everyone knows, skibeagle, that the difference between a 767 and a 757 is matter of 3-ish seats across. The distinction has been used by unscrupulous management individuals at various airlines, not only EK, to prevent advancement by certain groups of individuals, and constitutes a self-serving game of political handball. Life's a bitch, I fly with a few of them.
That having been said, the imminent pilot shortage has been a long time coming, perhaps it’s just breathing hard. In the meantime, enjoy the Dubai sun, and please don’t hold your breath.