For those who are not informed, the USFAA have had the limit at 1000 annual hours for as long as I have been a professional pilot...42 years.
Though it may have changed since I left, the 1000 hour limit referred to Part 121 domestic operations. I believe that the limit for Flag operations (international) was/is actually 1200 hours per year. I also believe that Part 135 was 1200 hours.
I'm not defending the hours thing. In fact, I find EK's attitude towards flight duty time and fatigue reprehensible but I guess it's par for the course when you sign up for a job with no representation and very few employment rights.