They also asked if I had any applications progressing with other airlines.
This combined with the multiple reports of candidates being asked if they will accept poor terms and conditions (70% salary and working plus pay (quote) £20,000 for type rating), would lead me to support the theory that as much as anything else, Jet2 management are trying to get a feel for the current market.
I suppose previously they would simply think that it is an employer's market, but now that the Middle East recruitment appears to have changed the conditions of that market, they are trying to find out by how much, which is good. Encouraging to see plenty of naysayers above, which proves the market for employees is becoming better than it was.