If true will mean no start for plenty currently swimming I'd imagine?
I don't know what is happening, but I'd be surprised if that happened.
The 2008 hold pool (which I was in) was disbanded in its entriety when it became clear that no recruitment was planned for quite some time, when everyone had been in the hold pool for at least 18 months. (we'll ignore the fact that the current round of recruitment started only 2 months after that!
). before that the pilot rectuitment manager at the time, moved on to another job and wasn't replaced, so it was fairly clear that it was all over quite early on in that process
AFAIK at the moment its a 'pause' not an outright panic, crash stop as it was in '08. I'm sure some have been in the pool for alot longer than others, but I'd be surprised if they chuck some out the pool and not others. Theres 300 BMI guys to get through SEPs, intial CRM's etc and a course and OPC, along with fleet moves and the current DEP courses - thats a whole lot of training resource that would tax any airline.
Yes the global economy is suffering and yes we have a government in the UK that is acting like its owned by emirates and lufthansa, but all the signs at the moment are that we are looking at a long, slow and painful recovery, but a recovery nonetheless.
I woudn't turn down another job to wait out the holding pool, but also I wouldn't panic too much either. I reckon it will be up and running soon.
Also there is every chance that the morons in whitehall will make a kneejerk change to pension tax relief next week that will practically force all the senior BA skippers to retire, or face a mamoth tax bill. Theres a whole bunch of stuff coming over the hill that could either harm or improve recruitment overnight.
The fat lady ain't even got out of bed yet, let alone got dressed and waiting in the wings.