Reverserbucket,
There's little "logic" to airline hiring mentality. Here in the States, I'd bet money seats WILL be filled and age will not be a barrier.
In fact, the company I worked for has been hiring people in their mid-ish 40s for some time now (even back when 60 was mandatory retirement age). There was a time here when 28 was too old. Back around the early 90s I worked with a new FO retired from the USAF. He was told he was too old at 31 but...magically, at 41 he no longer was !!
Seats WILL be filled !!!