Where does it say recruitment ban? I can 100% tell you now that at least 2 pilots have confirmed start dates (letters of offer). So what ever recruitment ban you speak of is now non-existent.
Good news then!
I was under the impression that its was group policy due to mainline bleeding cash.
Commercial and HR are finally discovering that aeroplanes actually need someone to fly them. So if you bring in extra airframes then you need extra pilots regardless of some arbitrary recruitment ban.
No fleet growth, new frames are replacing end of lease frames, planned Hong Kong frames never came, maybe they know something we don't?