Humber 10
you might want to look at what's happening to retirement age across the world...do you think those selfless BA and Virgin types are standing down 5 or 10 years earlier in order to let those precious F/O's below them take early commands?...yeah right..and why the hell should they?...in order for those F/O's to be able to work 5 or 10 years more than them with all the financial rewards that would bring? Times change as do contracts ...all the time, in every industry the world over,and we all sometimes benefit from it and sometimes don't.
As for me, my command has been delayed so far probably by about 2 years, but in the long term I will be able to be a captain for up to 10 years longer...if I choose to do so, and yes, its if I choose to as it is with all those staying on now, and thats how it should be.