Everyone is hiring like mad. EK are competetive, just not attractive.
To get people to move it has to be a step change in conditions or aircraft type. F/Os looking to step up should be easier to recruit than Captains but the dollar weakness makes the package unattractive in a lot of countries. Just for example; a guy joining 8 years ago from the UK got 3,000 pounds per month, today he still gets 3000 and in the intervening time inflation has gone mad. That means that our salary package has been by-passed by home country pay and if time to command extends there is zippo chance of getting experienced guys from a lot of markets.
If EK want the pilots they have to be attractive, at the moment they are 22nd in the list (quote from management) of comparable airlines. We are getting 6% plus flying pay in May, that might get us up into the top 15. If they want the guys they should be aiming at the top 3. To get the cash they accept a slightly reduced profit (the cost base is mega for them at the moment: cheap dollar costs, stronger currency revenues) or cut back on the sponsorship deals. Dubai Investment have all the money in the world to promote Dubai and can buy the Footy Stadiums, horses etc.
Ghost