Macdo's point is very valid - aviation is a fickle business dependent on World economies and stability. When bad times come or seem to be coming people cut down on luxuries (inc travel), when things improve they are slow to resume those luxuries. When I joined JMC (itself a merger) in 2000 there were 5 'charter' airlines - JMC, Airtours, Monarch, Air2000, Britannia. Jet2 didn't exist, but now there's TUI and Jet2.
I take issue with only one thing - "only BA have avoided serious job losses". There's a UK airline out there with 500+ pilots, 25+ ac with global reach which has never laid anyone off or furloughed anyone in its 24 years of existence and has picked up multiple Flybe, Monarch, TCX, Virgin, Cathay, ME3 refugees!
I know nothing about BA other than if you want to be there, early seems to be better than late.
Rgds