Fired some pilots in 2010, but they all got re-hired within a year.
The hiring now is mainly due to an existing and planned expansion of 5%
pr year, which amount to quite a lot of new pilots since we are appr 1500 pilots today. In addition, 50-60 pilots will reach retirement during the next year, and quite a few are going for an early retirement deal combined with flying their last years for Etihad.
The demand is reduced quite a lot due to the concessions given last autumn, with more working hours on each pilot, but still there is a demand for 40 new pilots during the spring, and planned at least the same amount during the autumn...