You were warned. And I'll say it again. Dont believe "next week" means that until you actually see a piece of paper.
My guess for pilot start dates is still "next year, maybe Q2". Remember they still have no aircraft to base check you on, so you cannot complete your local licence. Use NX's aircraft? Mmmmm, depends on the politics, and MAX's declaration of destintations without NX approval may have screwed that.
On the routes, I still cant see how the politics are going to play out. You have
a) the Hos who want to fly anywhere asap to get pax into casinos
b) NX - the only company in Macau set to report lower revenues and higher losses this year (despite the fastest economy growing economy in the world at 40% GDP growth) - bad face, so no chance TPE, KHH, PEK, PVG, ICN, Japan
c) Beijing who is becoming anti-casino and whose recently appointed COO must be concluding these aircraft would be better placed for Air China by wet leasing all but 2 aircraft out of PEK
So for routes, my guess is still 2nd tier China (aka no profits, load factors) with LCC competitive routes (aka no profits)
