Just as Dubai needs extra bodies for Jebel Ali, Area needs lots of extra guys for the transition to the new centre, and that is one of the driving forces behind GCAA deciding to go out and get ATCO's themselves. Rather than paying salaries that are on a par with international salaries,GCAA have realised that you have to pay a premium above what guys can get at home, to entice them to the sandpit.
And Yakity Yak, 49 days annual leave? No way, a minimum of what we are getting now with Serco, 56 calendar days and no less. And don't believe the spin that Serco puts on this whole thing like the old chestnut "well we don't make much profit on this contract". There is enough profit margin in the contract to pay 40,000 dhs per controller and still make a tidy profit, but the question is are Serco willing to take the hit and do that. Probably not which means at the end of September when time runs out there will be a lot of ATCO's off Sercos books and they will then have to take an even bigger hit.