Time to command is not a fixed figure in any company. It depends on expansion, retirements, route structure, fleet manning requirements and a number of other variables. Currently, BA pilots are achieving shorthaul commands at between 10 and 15 years, and longhaul nearer 20. However, it's not that long since shorthaul commands were available after 8 or so years. If BA begin a serious expansion period, as is rumoured and expected by the markets, the requirement for new captains will increase. Similarly, although BA's retirement option has gone from 55 to 60 (and people cannot now be prevented from remaining until 65), the retirement rate will resume its normal curve 5 or so years from last November, when that legislation was brought into force.
Direct-entry captains are very unlikely ever to be accepted within BA - or most other UK airlines.
For more info about BA recruiting, look
here.
As for other Virgin's time to command, it's currently about 8-9 years. With no aircraft deliveries currently scheduled until 2011, it's likely to extend up to 12 years for those nearing the bracket now, but may reduce for those later in the queue if the numbers of commands generated exceeds the recruiting rate of 10-12 years before (if you see what I mean!). That said, it's quite possible that Virgin will reactivate the 6 deferred A346 orders in the next year or two, which would generate about 60 commands, and keep command time to about 9-10 years.
Scroggs