The command priority for EK is:
Qualified first officers who have completed 3 years. This is 6000tt and 4000 on aircraft of 10 tons or more.
If there are none, then accelerated command of first officers who have 8000tt with 2000pic of aircraft over 55 tons and 18 months with EK.
If there are neither of these then DEC's.
These are a few of the requirements regarding flight time. There are other requirements to be met before upgrade.
We are currently accelerating on the 777 but not airbus.
On the airbus I am sure that there are pleanty of "normal command" first officers to fill all of the required upgrade positions for the next couple of years. The guys in upgrade class now are all at the 3 year mark, but who know's if that trend will continue.
We will run out of first officers eligible to upgrade on the 777 in April of next year, so unless we start to allow transition upgrades, (not likely)we will again hire DEC's to the 777.
Hope it helps,
330 man