More food for thought if you haven't heard enough: I think EK have had something like 45 guys come from QF on leave, another 5 came from NZ, at least 10 that I know of came from airlines in the U.S.= a total of at least 60 guys have joined EK on loan from other airlines (I know there are more but these are ones I know of for sure). Each of those guys had the option to stay at EK or go back to their previous airline. I believe 1 guy stayed from NZ. The QF guys have some more time to go but I believe only a handful of them are considering staying and all the Americans I know of have left. So out of that total of 60 guys, maybe 5 will stay at EK. Hardly a ringing endorsement.