6 weeks away
There only reason that justify keeping the 777 and A330 expats in India for such a long time is merely political: the local union, which basicaly have management under their knees, only 'allow' expats to be hired on the long haul fleet to use them as a luxury standbys. And of course there are not enough 737 captains to upgrade to the wide body fleet for now.
Every time a local captain refuses to take a trip due to the cricket game, or nefew marriage, etc an expat siting at the hotel is pulled.
No expat has been following the published roster whatsoever, never. Roster is a joke.
The local captains simply disrupt rostering at will and nothing happens to them.
If a decent rostering system could be established the expats would be able to fly up to 80 hours a month on 19 days ON. This would be way more efficient and cost effective. But nobody cares.
They want the expats sitting at the hotel waiting for the phone ring.
6 weeks away from family is inhumane, cruel, good only for the desperates or the ones that simply don't care about family (and vice versa...)
And this 'commuting' is farcical.