gissmonkey
I understand the second of the -600's was delivered late dec 02.
I also understand that the 777 and A330 deliveries are spread through until end 2004.
9 aircraft over three years.
Based on the deliveries thus far (2 in '02) and the schedule of deliveries planned, my geuss is that 3 or 4 a/c will arrive in 2003. 1 long haul, the remainder short haul.
it says they want 235 pilots this year
There are roughly 21 crew per a/c (flexible according to l/h s/h)
If 4 a/c arrive, about 85 recruitments are reqd to cover the expansion.
What of the remainder?
Will it be
a)150 retirements in 2003
b)150 sackings for no reason in 2003
c)150 extra crew required to cover the rostering system we should be on, when they lose the court case in 2003
In 1999/2000 CX announced orders/leases for 15 a/c for arrival in 2000/2001. When this 25% increase in fleet size was announced, they also said they would require 220 more pilots. Not up to the 20 odd crew per a/c theory is it? Why? Perhaps a change to the contract was in the breeze, and they felt they were overstaffed.
Now they say they they want a greater # of pilots, for a much smaller expansion, over a longer peiod. Why? Perhaps a change to the contract is in the breeze, and they feel they are understaffed!
All will be revealed in the course of time.
I am not trying to sound underwhelmed, but a 5% increase in fleet size in a 12 month period is hardly "major expansion"