stacee jaxx
The annual pilot bidding process, called PRIAM, that allows pilots to indicate what their aspirations are for the coming year closed on the 10th. This process allows pilots to request part time, for life style or pre retirement rundown reasons.
This allows BA to workout how many full time equivalent pilots it will have in the coming year. This is then married up to the amount of work (schedule) it is planning for next year on each specific aircraft type.
An example of this would be 2 x 747 capts going to 50% working releasing 1 full time 747 capt position. The companies most senior non 747 capt (this could be a SFO) who had requested a 747 capt position would then take that slot releasing his position. This backfilling process continues down the seniority chain until no-one wants what is left, usually a short haul FO slot.
When this process is complete for everybody, BA will know how many slots they have to fill. These bid results are expected by beginning of Oct.
In the meantime BA might might decide that they are anticipating so much expansion that they know they will definitely need more pilots and so open recruitment or start taking from the pool. However government stats show that the economy is in a dire state but the loads onboard my ac seem good and some routes are chocka so who knows the overall picture.
regards