airlines have started expanding again and the reality is that there are not enough capts available! so we will see more exapts (capts) flying for jet, spice, indigo and KF atleast for the next 3-6 years...
One more reality is that there are not enough first officers... if they upgrade and put these first officer for command training they will have to cancel many a flights... not as much due to lack of captains but due to lack of first officers.
And don't tell me that AIR India doesn't have upgradeable first officers to replace the three expat first officers on 777.
Its also very evident that few airlines have been making new recruits wait almost 2 years to initiate F/O training.
I have data on them, of course people here will not like all the names printed..
the reality is that india as of now is not ready to do away with expats...not for the next 3 years atleast
Of course they will stay, but we want a higher percentage (40% or above) of TRE/TRIs. Else these waves of expansion will be coming like usual and extensions will precede perceived expansions.