Transition upgrades no more?? (EK)
Can anyone confirm the latest rumour regarding no more transition upgrades at all? Obviously nothing will be put in writing as this would cause a massive loss of face for some, as well as the resultant strain put upon recruitment when pilots around the world hear of this latest policy.
If this is the case, then there will be a vast increase in the number of DEC's coming to EK, provided of course the company can find some. There is no other possibility to crew the arriving 777's.
Airbus F/O's could be in for a very long wait for the opportunity to upgrade since there are no planned new arrivals of airbus for over a year. The numbers of captains on the airbus is approaching the required numbers, albeit less than what really should be planned, so in other words if an airbus F/O isn't allowed to transition upgrade, the left hand seats on the airbus will only become available due to attrition. The 90 or so airbus F/O's presently beyond the 3 year point remain F/O's while watching DEC's and the odd 3 year Boeing F/O jumping the line. Naturally this will have a follow-on effect for all airbus F/O's in the future as well.
In about a year of two we will begin to see the attrition of the early DEC's who had only planned a few years at EK. This will add to the higher than expected turnover rate at EK. I really question the long term cost savings of DEC's in spite of the fact that it was the clear aim EK management. Not to mention the lack of suitable F/O's now applying or the huge increase in F/O's and Capt's leaving. Too bad no one can put a cost figure on the general disharmony and low moral caused by the DEC policy either.
As an aside, why has all the interest from potential American DEC's seemed to have dried up? Is it the general unease in the ME, or the new tax laws to be announced from GW's regime or simply an overall reality check? Oh so curious here.....