Originally Posted by
Bindair Dundat
The current actions KE is taking don't support your statement. Much like many other carriers, KE could have easily gotten rid of the entire expat group over the course of the summer. They have chosen not to go that route. There are many contingencies that will play out as the two carriers merge and your observation is too simplistic to be categorically true. It may go that direction but I would not underestimate the desire of KE to not have all their eggs in one basket for their pilot employment group. There are many benefits to not having their pilots speak with one unified voice and these should appear obvious to anyone who has been in the industry long enough to understand how airline management works. I expect nationalistic tendencies to be much stronger as the world emerges from the pandemic but many of the reasons KE had expats in the first place have not changed measurably.
If you have other solid data to support your conclusion, I am sure many on here would be very interested to understand your very black and white determination.
Why KE has not fired expats and continue to renew the contracts? One simple reason, it is not costing them a dime, and the work force is available in case they need pilots again. All other airlines have fired expats because it costs them money, be it minimum basic pay, accommodation allowance or education allowance. If you were at KE, you know there were zero allowances and for accommodation they used Hyatt. So, an expat sitting at home on leave without pay, is costing KE nothing. Who wouldn't want to keep a future work force if it comes at a very good price tag- FREE?
It is my opinion that if the expats were costing KE even $10 per month each KE will start firing expats..