DRs and Xeptu,
You are talking about the previous aviation world, one that has disappeared thank to Covid. I know of over 1000 EK pilots who are now out of work. Many of them, myself included, are not ready for "Retirement". DrPixie - I think you don't really know the challenges of working for an Airline like EK. Due to their vast network, you could be rostered to go to a destination somewhere on the planet you have never been to, at night, to conditions that most Australian pilots will never face. eg Minus 20deg C cold weather ops, having crossed the Himalayas into Beijing, or across the North Pole to JFK, or into Moscow, or Harare, etc. I know dozens of airline captains that are ex military, ex ga, ex charter, and very very experienced in their past lives. I really don't think its a stretch for these ex airline pilots to undertake whatever role they desire or are motivated to take. It's a new aviation world out there.