Simba kali,
5Y-NOT is spot on. KQ is short of 80 pilots as we speak, this does not even cover their expansion plans. You would be surprised to know that flying 80-100 hrs a month is typical on some fleets eg the 767. Most pilots have not gone on leave for 6yrs!
However, the situation has now become unsustainable hence the recruitment campaign. You would also be surprised to learn how much crew are needed to run a scheduled program and how crew wasteful some destinations are eg Bangkok in this case KQ crew would stay upto a week before heading back to NBO, its since improved with the addition of a fourth frequency.
Anyway, you better come back home before they fill up the slots!
Regards,
406 Pilot
To go to your initial post, KQ did not put the ad so as to poach pilots from ATC, mere coincidence for reasons that have already been explained in this thread.
Regarding the code share, merger and alliances: KQ did have a code share with ATC until SAA bought them, whereupon SAA promptly cancelled it saying that they could not code share with a bitter rival. The rest is history. ATC has now stopped flying to NBO a market they have served since 1977 as they can\'t compete with KQ on this route, indeed SAA can\'t compete with KQ on the JHR-NBO route as they have cut freqencies from 10 initally to match KQ\'s and are now down to 7 while KQ is planning to go double daily as soon as they sort out their crewing shortage.
KQ offered to create an East African Airline when ATC was being privatised but the Tanzanians rebuffed the offer in favour of SAA and SADC. KQ\'s analysis of ATC showed that ATC and DAR would not be viable as a stand alone airline and hub respectively, they did bid for the airline but withdrew at the last minute when the due diligence revealed the foregoing. KQ\'s valuation of ATC at that time was no more than 8mio USD, SAA was desperate to take the war to KQ in its home market by creating an alternative hub in DAR and over bid and paid USD 20mio for ATC. The rest is history.
Regards,