It's all about market timing
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40756834
BBC report yesterday stating that analysis of HMRC (tax return) figures showed UK pilots enjoyed a 26% increase in pay between 2011 and 2016. Obviously that was in the UK and us humble beings in HK received nothing like that.
Success in business is all about market timing, when oil prices are falling, you hedge heavily against higher oil prices. When the market for pilots is tight and salaries are rising globally, slash your pilot's salaries and benefits.
Airlines don't need fuel and pilots, they need graphs and cheesy slogans. Time to win!!