The entire premise behind the BMI integration was to enable the use of the BMI shorthaul slots for the more profitable Long Haul routes. As the current market for LH hulls is a little full with a couple of middle eastern airlines taking up much of the production line the ability to procure LH hulls is going to be a long one.
As the slots migrate across then the requirement for both RHS and LHS increases with the necessity for extra crewing per hull. BA envisage a substantial increase in pilot requirements leading to a reduction in time to command. Also the generated commands are not give 1:1 BA:BMI they are distributed at 10:1 BA:BMI due to the BMI pilot workforce being approximately 1/10th the size of BA thus increasing the potential command opportunities for BA SFO's.
We WILL NOT SEE INSTANT RESULTS! These transitions will take time. The biggest question is what is the time scale. Whilst the economic slump continues nobody knows. When the economy picks up the BA (under IAG but seperate from IB) will be in a position to expand its LH operations, for example to China where a new route has been announced today. There have been times in BA where pilots went direct from 2 rings to 4 and times when commands have taken 17+ years. It all depends when you join and the demographics of the airline.
We are just coming to the end of the 10 year retirement age increase and subsequent drag on the seniority system. Change will occur I would just challenge anyone to give a timescale on it.
Good luck!
Last edited by Wirbelsturm; 19th December 2012 at 11:16.