The news is not good at the moment.
I was there yesterday and we were told the following:
a. There is definitely a recruitment freeze.
b. Pilots ARE included.
c. Pilot recruitment already underway will continue, but as mentioned above this will be for the hold pool.
d. There will almost certainly be no DEP on to long haul for the foreseeable future.
e. There may be a need for short haul next year but this is subject to an exemption to the freeze being granted by management and by no means certain.
Also, to clarify, the time in the hold pool starts at Day 1 assessment. At present sim bookings are not available until Nov / Dec this year. So anyone successful then, will only have 8 months or so before having to reapply
If you are planning to go along, be aware of this and be realistic. On the one hand you have to 'be in it to win it'. On the other hand it's a lot of effort to go to for almost certainly no job!
Nevertheless, good luck to all
.
KT