Snigs - quite correct. The rise of the employment model that has no seniority list, no incremental pay scales and no final salary pension scheme means that when the good times come around again the pilot workforce will be freerer to move employer than at any time before.
Similarly the universality of type ratings will exacerbate the issue. If you have 737 & A320 ratings then you can notionally work for about 70% of all european airlines WITHOUT having to re-bond for type rating.
Throw in the imminent (FRA are already there) new development of pan European airlines offering basin opportunities in attractive foreign climes and I think we are definitely entering a new chapter of European pilot employment.
Hopefully a chapter that does not feature self funded commercial type ratings
Cheers
WWW
ps Tailscrape - I believe a JAA Final Line Checked B737 pilot WILL have a great employment advantage. In the end 100hrs, 250hrs or 500hrs is all the same - low time on type. The hurdle is the final line check and the scheme in question crosses that one.