Mr Farty,
You must work for them as you have obviously taken my comments too personally.Yes I probably am immature and ignorant but I can see no 'harping on' about how things were done in xxxxxairways(isn't it called XL.COM now?)in my posting.I even wished the MBO enterprise luck.RTFQ as they say!
But to answer your 'points'.
This is a rumour network.The XL crew members I was with yesterday suggested the rumour of the CAA omission.I have little doubt that if true,it would have been rapidly addressed by the more mature and intelligent.
A UK led MBO of part of an Icelandic owned European based company would only require aviation authority approval in each of the AOC awarding countries.The CAA in this country would need to approve the financial governance arranged by the MBO team.Size and Scope(good words Mr Farty) are not changed in this instance,unlike MyTravel's move on some First Choice business announced today.Therefore there would be little to interest the competition commisioners by the change in ownership.
At least we agree about poor morale,even if you reckon you can see the problem resolving itself.Of course the modus operandi of Excel up to now has been to have a core of pretty happy loyal pilots(let's call them the Excelites..I guess that would be you Mr M) and to bring in seasonal contract disloyal crews as and when required(lets call them the er..AAEites).Loyalty is a two way affair.I have been told that most of the people leaving are doing so because of chaotic crew rostering.According to the chaps yesterday,the 737 has always had a more stable time than the 757 and 767.This has mainly been the result of difficulty finding 757/767 crews qualified to fly both types,on different AOC's,with different SOPs, ETOPS checked,and strip ASI checked for one of the odd 767s.This presented a tough assignment for even the most experienced of crewing managers. But of the mixed bunch yesterday,only one had thought of leaving(to easy).He had then thought better of it.
All the above is title tatle Mr Farty.I still maintain that XL.COM will need to overcome many challenges in the next 18 months or so to succeed.Making a buck will be the key.I still wish them luck,don't you?
PS MANOEUVRE one hundred times by tomorrow morning please..don't want to look ignorant do we!