Camelhair, which airlines are we talking about? Vueling, Sky Europe, Wizz, Air Berlin? And let's add it all up, because we all know that you get paid nothing for nothing these days and your basic is as low as it can go, with flight pay putting money in your pocket for working. Why did the EZY pilots move to FR if there is such a difference in salary? And what about roster patterns?
Far be it for me to act as an apologist for FR - pay deals in the current tight market for experienced Captains are neither here nor there, as market demand will dictate. If other airlines pay more (and have a more human face), Captains will move and all the FR posturing comes to nothing as they need the guys to fly their aircraft. Talking about 3-4 year pay deals in the current volatile environment doesn't fly for anyone. But you can be damn sure that FR do what they do because they can - everything is carefully benchmarked relative to other airlines.