“Why should the QF salaries be the aspirational minimum?”
Because QF conditions are way above the average “basket” of conditions within the region for similar job roles. A startup carrier like VOZ is never going to benchmark conditions against an incumbent like QF.
“What would you have instead? The Jetstar. Pacific Blue or Tiger wages?”
And any other jet operator in the region too. The average of these is a good place to start.
“fortunately, shortly there will be too few pilots for too many aircraft….”
Never the case in oz. You mean too few pilots with the perceived required experience for the number of aircraft. It’s a very different thing.
“…. and market forces will rule……”
Precisely the point being made by myself, and some others too. Market forces work both ways. They cannot be embraced during a labor shortage to improve conditions but ignored during a downturn. VOZ conditions are sufficient to attract the required headcount to operate their fleet, so apparently the market has spoken.
I am off to have a beer with a US based 747 cargo captain. He earns about $100,000 USD. I guess I am buying.