“Bearing in mind that a non European national requires a work permit to work in Europe, maybe there is a massive shortage of pilots in Europe and the carriers have no other choice but to employ non Europeans.”
Errr… excuse me…
Let me know were is a shortage of pilots in Europe, because I need a job, and I am seriously fed up to learn that there are Americans, Canadians, South Africans, Aussies, Nigerians, Kiwis ,and other nationalities freely working in Europe, and the reverse is not the rule.
To mention one company, Cargolux, they have several non-Europeans working there.