piontyendforward, It's not crap!
They are hireing mostly younger pers at the moment to stop a large amount of higher age pers retiring all at once. Yes there have been a FEW older people but mainly younger taken on.
Still about 60 to be employed in 2006! And at least 15 yet to be taken on this year.
On the aircraft front, the 787's are arriving a bit sooner thanks to ANA, and it will be 4 not the initial 2 that was publicised.
Expect the 737's to go in about 3-4 years and be replaced with A319's and don't expect to be flying for Air NZ on them, but some sort of low cost carrier. But I hope not.
A few mil guys have been given start dates on the 777 as S/O's so I don't think it's too much of a problem. Just blame Helen if it is.