What is amazing is that even with this kind of pilot shortage, in ME, Asia & EU the airlines are still hoping that the newbees will pay for the type rating. Its scary that the newbees have a thought process that its the only way to get a real job.
The LCCs will just not invest in any thing and smaller airlines are just poacing from bigger players.
Really! why do airlines think an X air force chappie can run a business when he has done is job all his life without a so called budget or answering to share holders.