We still are not discussing that Emirates is the best airline in the world arguement are we?
Why is EK having trouble recruiting pilots if it is the best? Fed Ex opened its application window for 2 weeks and got over 10,000 applications, I don't know how many were qualifed but they do have mins.
We struggle to fill classes from pilots far less qualified then even 4 yrs ago and even overfill the classes because too many fail the course or drop-out or no-show. Hence the "reason" from the company for the dreaded DECs. By the way I think this is the 3rd or 4th time since I have been with the company that the company has put in writing or said in Wash-ups that they were not ever hiring DECs again and then very soon after the memo started hiring DECs.
Most pilots agree that being on the top at BA, AC, LH, or AF you don't look up at too many other airlines. If you come from Mesa, British Charters, LCCs in Europe, or other regionals EK is superb.