Perhaps they want to avoid having to put new guys through a type rating.
Of course that's what they are up to.
The point is both BA and Virgin, traditionally seen as top of the UK aviation job pyramid, used to ask for 500 hours total time (BA) or X thousand hours in a Boeing/Airbus (Virgin) for DEPs. Now we see type rated only at Virgin, and in the last round of recruitment at BA it was only those with the right type rating that actually got in.
With the "top of the pyramid" employers significantly narrowing the opportunities to get in, what does this do for a traditional career path? How will this ripple down to other less salubrious employers? Are we seeing another small but significant step in errosion of our career aspirations?
All this talk of Virgin pilots ending up in BA - surely the very last thing to expect. If/when Virgin finally goes under, I'm sure Branson will ensure the carcass is sold on to anybody-but-BA. An asset strip (slots) to Delta looks the most likely outcome.