It really surprised me that the Qantas pilot group sat back and let Jetconnect have the Tasman routes back in 2001/2. This is just a continuation of that...no-one is being "replaced by others across the Tasman on truck-driver's wages" Don't JC already do a lot of the trans-Tasman flights? Fleet replacement with NGs was known about months ago.
What concerns me is whether JC will now be overstaffed. No domestic flying, but a few more Tassies (mainly out of Auckland) could mean a pilot surplus. A lot of the guys there are former colleagues of mine. I'd hate to see them lose their jobs (again)
So now QF has 3 pilot groups in NZ...JC, Jetstar NZ and the Jetstar Aus CHC base. Gee, that makes sense!