Strange - just been golfing with a VS skipper today.
He was saying that a number of pilots have applied for part-time working and that the company are now embracing this scheme, because of possible savings.
The likelihood seems that they may need a few more pilots if the scheme is rolled out properly.
Apparently the savings come from the fact that most guys will be senior (can afford the pay cut), hence the highest incremental pay group - years 15 and up it appears. The new joiners would cost less comparatively, due to the lack of incremental pay i.e. joining on year 1.
No idea if it'll happen, but seemed plausible to me.