As Halas says the "Flight Crew Envy" is a really big issue here.
However, an airline without enough pilots just becomes an aircraft storage company.
There are many disparities between Ground/Office staff and Flight Crew/Operational staff, leave and weekends are just a couple.
As far as I know EK has NEVER had an issue recruiting Ground/Office staff, consequently no recruiting or package incentives are needed. The same cannot be said for Aircrew, Engineers etc.
Its a marketplace and EK having been THE place to come has rapidly become THE place to avoid, for anyone with historic experience. Not my personal spin but direct feedback from chums with ticks in all the boxes whom I have known for years.
This is sad as it used to be the best expat job out there................................
