Emirates: Basings
Apologies if this thread has already been aired and done to death!
I understand this was analysed some time ago but dropped due to concern by EK management that they would come under the auspices of local industrial laws and trades union.
Surely however now, with EK ordering ever-increasing aircraft numbers and already having recruitment difficulties (this will only be compounded by the now almost critical aircrew shortage), Emirates would benefit hugely by opening say 3 or 4 overseas crew basings?
For example, setting up base in say London, Jo'burg, Melbourne/Sydney and New York. Almost overnight, highly-qualified crew who previously would not even consider EK would be sorely tempted. This is by no means a slur on Dubai, but I understand from the dissatisfaction aired by many crews, they are not enraptured about living in a desert. I am in Hong Kong and it is also a decreasingly popular place to live.
The main issue would then be who gets the bases? New joiners? Those in order of seniority? DEC's?
Anyhow, just wondering to what degree this is inevitable and whether it would be a better alternative to say the likes of Korean who woke up early to the requirement to base people where they wanted?