It anyone thinks that CX will downgrade KA Captains in order to please the AOA for the sole benefit of having a single list, then you are mistaken. They will never spend the money on 're-training' nor risk losing that many crews.
At present the 'offer' directly affects around 100 Classic drivers. At a realistic gues some 50% of them will take up the offer (mainly FO's) to transfer to CX on the 747 fleet based in MAN. Some 40% will take up the option of coming to HKG. These will be mainly senior FO's or very junior Capts. That leaves around 10% that will simply leave for greener pastures.
So in the washup, CX will gain around 50 pilots with around 20 of them going through the Rapid Command scheme. CX/KA will only lose around 10 pilots. Of course that will increase if the Rapid Command proves to be a culling tool.
KA pilots based in HKG wil not be integrated into a common list at CX's whim. Not at least until they can gain crew efficiencies which will only occur if the CAD allow each others TIRE's to crosscheck each others pilots and allow those pilots to fly each others aircraft. If CX can get this through then there are significant benefits for the group.
Of course the AOA will object to this and state that KA pilots cannot fly CX pax aircraft. But when millions of dollars in savings are possible, do you think that CX will listen to the AOA? And consider that NO CX pilot will be disanvantaged. In fact once it happens, CX time to command will reduce as FO's have access to another 30 odd aircraft.
In short, a merger of the list can benefit both pilot groups and provide significant savings for CX/KA. CX/KA will not pander to either pilot body in order to achieve these savings. There are many hurdles to cross but being an optimist I believe that can be done. What is needed is a rational and objective approach by all parties concerned.
Cheers
Drunkenair (hic)
