Rumour has it there are 60-80 guys who have ALREADY passed their command assessment, waiting for up to a year for a command training slot.
One wonders why they would train an outside Boeing DEC through an airbus course for 8 weeks when they could have an upgraded guy promoted internally, useful and on-line in a month. Is it because they make more money by charging/ bonding the guy for his airbus rating and are having trouble finding FO's quickly enough through the TRSS scheme, which is cheaper for them? Hence the shortage of FO's so they are unwilling to upgrade our own people which would exacerbate the shortage.
Just as well people are easyJet's greatest resource...........