At Virgin not much has changed - though we have probably 170 more pilots than we did when this thread started, and we are continuing to recruit. 7 A346s are due to arrive this year (though we will lose 4 A343s), and another bunch (with no losses) next year. The A380 is still on the horizon (though delivery now looks likely to slip to 2009 thanks to problems at Airbus), and there are the beginnings of the process of replacing (or augmenting or extending the life of) the B744 fleet. New routes are steadily being introduced (Dubai and Jamaica plus extra New York (July) and Hong Kong (November) schedules this year), and there are some interesting new destinations proposed for the future. The next round of pay talks are just beginning, with the focus firmly on lifestyle issues. Incrementally, things are improving for us in almost every direction and the pilot workforce is generally persuaded that things are going in the right direction. There are a few issues, as there are anywhere, but no deal-breakers.
There are several threads on this board that suggest from within BA that things are not so great - and many of the complaints brought in this thread 2 years ago have not been satisfactorily addressed. The new pilot contract and pension arrangements have not gone down well, and, for a new-joiner, do not compare particularly favourably with Virgin's. BA is still a great company, and my many friends there say that things are not as bad as they are painted here by some, but there are none who, if they were looking for a job right now (and accepting that we are talking only about longhaul) would choose BA over Virgin.
Scroggs