Originally Posted by
anonfly
800 pilots have a right of return for 5yrs. All a little complex
The answer is yes and no. If a pilot bids for a position and then turns it down they are on an administrative freeze for 18months (locked out).
Also some pilots are working elsewhere and may have decided not to come back. Others have taken the redundancy and moved on. Others will be restricted by what bases are on offer. Ex VAINZ pilots will be required to move to Australia. So while there is 800 pilots in a pool the company can tap on the shoulder for the next 5yrs not all will take up the offer. The important date is October 2024 for any pilots that may be wishing to turn down a role as if they turn down a role after that date they would effectively be locked out for 18months and fall of the list come April 2026. It would interesting to see if Virgin re offers a position or would externally recruit.
Realistically I can’t see external positions being offered until after the 5yrs. 800 pilots is a lot of growth and retirements regardless of the mechanics involved with right of return.
The right of return is for 10 years I believe.
Those returning pilots maintain their GDOJ (seniority) number if they return prior to April ‘26.
After that date, all those pilots lose their GDOJ number, but still hold priority to return over an external applicant for a further 5 years except when the pilot does return in that case, they will have lost their seniority and now be at the bottom of the list for promotion or base transfer.