BIG Geordie...thanks for the info...Are EK worried about where their pilots are from a staffing point of view? Junior manning? Drafting? Extra Flights? is it a safety point of view?
<<<Only operating crew are allowed on the flight deck from pushback to chocks on.>>>
It is slightly off the subject, but you mentioned pushback to chocks on.
At China, they lock (electric on 747-400) door the minute the crew shows up to do a preflight and after the final checklist. I have never seen any carrier do that. Even the F/As have to knock or buzz to get in even :45 before DEPARTURE. You have to even buzz your own crew to get back to the cockpit :45 down to departure just to go to the bathroom.
Although my background is YANKEE,I have ridden on at least 15 international carriers. At all of them, most pilots like to stop in and say hello to pilots of another airline or country. Anyway just an observation