Maybe they are just more concerned about DEC's as this IS a risky step for any company.
You hire a captain that should fly your shiny aircraft and risk the wellbeing of the entire company.
If you hire FO's it is much easier - you have a person in charge that is long in the company and can have an eye on that new joiner. If it is the other way around it is much harder for the company.
Actually very easy to understand(if you put yourself in an airlinemanagers shoes) why DEC'S are the last resort for any company.
I really respect that, being myself a captain in europe since 1999. If I would join EK it would be most likely as an FO. Or do you think BA, LH or any other serious European carrier would hire a DEC??
In my eyes a safety question. You want to know your captains.
It seems now EK starts to hire DECS on the 330 fleet, it seems they are very desperate right now.