Come the end of this consultation period I predict a pilot shortage in Aer Lingus not an excess. The company, even up to yesterday have been ringing around to see if anyone fancied moving to Washington for a year to start up the new base. Up to five more aircraft bound for Gatwick next summer, to be followed by a rumoured total of 16 aircraft eventually. Rumoured new routes to Cape Town, Tel Aviv, Chicago and other routes outside of Europe require a local AOC and hence the Astreaus involvment. The current operation in the UK under their Irish AOC does not legally allow for this type of expansion to non European countries. It will take up to six months to get their own, as they have indicated publically this week. The chief executive has also indicated that he is anxious to join one of the Airline Alliance groups once again.
A highly debatable and round figure surplus of 100 is immediately reduced taking the 30 or so pilots in the company going through the command process for the current base in Gatwick which to date has four aircraft and only four captains. Many others, rumours of up to 60 captains and FO's heading off to Etihad, Air China with a Sydney base and Vietnam Airlines where many of the younger pilots are heading for a three year stint. Vietnam has always been a popular contract airline for many in the company with some going back for a second time. Aer Lingus reserve the right to call these pilots back earlier if required. Only last week Etihad came over and held a pilot recruitment open day for positions on the A330 and A320 which was organised by Aer Lingus and held in the company head office. Personally I'm delighted the new Chief Executive is finally looking to the future. He appears to have a plan, something that has been lost for want of a better word in the past few years. For too long the company has had its hands tied with old civil service type practices from all staff from being state owned for so many years. Now sees a opportunity to slim the excessive cost base and line itself up for expansion going into the future. There aren't too many current pilots in the company that would disagree despite the all too often negative press.
Last edited by Lord Lardy; 9th October 2009 at 20:47.