Time for a reality check guys.....
Big Neon is basically right, confirmed by what an indiscreet senior manager in HR was heard to say recently. There will be no payrise this year and probably not next year either - yes that's right not next year either as long as QR can bring in the numbers of new recruits - not difficult when you see the number of fresh faced wannabees seeking information on QR in these forums.
The now that April is here all will go quiet for a bit and then the rumour will suggest that a possible increase will come in September, then September will come and... you can guess the rest. What's the deal? QR is coming to the end of year one of a three year 'makeover' to show profits and then to launch an IPO (2012+). This time last year our 'CEO' announced that QR would for the first time declare profit at the end of the 2009-10 financial year and that this would be the first of three consecutive years of profit prior to the launch of an IPO. In the meantime the Qatar Government will bring the airline into 100% government ownership.
The reality is that the financial performance is not going according to plan. Costs are still way too high (across the company) and revenues are also too low despite a tentative recovery in volume. The issue is that yields (average ticket price) are still well down and unlikely to recover soon other than on certain key routes - just look at the competition, not just EY/EK etc but the incoming LCCs in the region have really held the yields down on regional routes. All these airlines are more or less hunting the same passengers and there are some great fares out there (good news for the consumer). If you want to go to DXB try SkyDubai - its cheaper than an ID90 and they will treat you nicely.
Anyway there will be no payrise because staff pay is the one area that the finance department is determined to keep a lid on. For ground staff its the same - many are working at salaries below there official grades and the adjustments get blocked every time in HR.
Bidding, expect this to continue to be eroded whilst you will see over and over the CC with 4,5 or even 6 days off in a row. In flight ops they are delighted with the 3 day rule quote "it will force pilots to properly commit to Qatar Airways and to life in Qatar". There is now a mountain of SBY cover every day (mostly useless but makes them look good) and we can all look forward to a new development... our beloved management does not want us to have more than 2 or 3 bidding options each month so that will be implemented very soon.
Happy days
