AN FO
I see your point but EK is not a normal expat airline. 1500? nearer 2000 and they need twice as many if they are to cope with the amount of proposed aircraft due over the next few years. Any resignations hit them hard and threefold; firstly the loss of experience, secondly the need to replace those who have gone before thirdly getting the numbers they need to cope with the continued expansion.
And they are NOT coping... the stress of which is being felt throughout the training department who are trying to deal with a mixed bag of DECs, outsourced training and new 'levels' of experience generally...
EK is in a state of flux and crisis manages from day to day. Planning has historically been the weakest link together with underestimation of the pressure it has put on all of the employees in and out of the flight deck. The infrastructure just is not strong enough to cope and the results could be catastrophic.
Yes expats airlines can expect some attrition but EK needs all of the pilots (good experienced pilots) it can get and cannot afford to lose anyone. But the market is changing and EK is not what it once was and what it pays millions to appear to be. There are other options for 777/330/340 pilots with the kind of experience EK pilots have, an asset EK constantly undervalues.
The resignations will continue. My only hope is that TCs will be in sooner rather than later so that we can turn things around before it is too late... then again perhaps it already is.