Re: EK: Direct Entry Onto A380
Since when have airbus dictated how airlines will crew their aircraft.
Obviously for the first half dozen or so they will have to use EK crews (Captains anyway) in order to establish the SOP's and operating culture. Plus i believe that Airbus have indicated that they will only train 340 qualified guys at Toulouse for the first couple of aircraft. Once that is done, and training is in house again, it will be open slather with new hire F/O's (just like it was on the 777 and 330 when they were new) and all the DEC's they can get.
Another point that makes DEC's the obvious choice is the amount of training it saves. If you move a 340 guy over, you will have a 380 transition a 340 CCQ and upgrade on the 330 an F/O transition on the 330 and the 380.
By my calculation that's 5 guys who have to be trained. Direct entries will reduce the training by more than 50%.
Am i the only one here who thinks that EK makes most operational decisions based largely on cost?