Emirates works on the fiscal year from April 1st to March 31st. The last letter that came out said 150 pilots in the next fiscal year. That would mean starting April 1, 2009 until March 31, 2010. What happens between now and April 1st is different. It's going to depend on delivery dates of the B777s; the global economy; attrition numbers; availability of housing; and other factors.
We've got A310 pilots, roughly 40, coming to the B777. Cadets are coming onto the B777. The B777 is overstaffed at present. B777 deliveries are delayed. A380 deliveries are delayed. All this combined is slowing the hiring numbers. It will take a few months to work through it, but with the number of B777s coming over the next few months all that will be taken care of and hiring off the street will resume.
Typhoonpilot