When I saw "ticking time bomb", I thought for sure the author meant CX's inability to grow the ASL in light of the A350 delivery schedule. Ironically, the MPL is meant to counter just such a problem. Once CX packs one in (not a matter of if but when), I think their ability to overcharge for tickets will be diminished. Until then, the Management will have no way to accurately value their "proper" pilots on the old Excel spreadsheet.
Tick tock, tick tock...