highfive - not sure there are many 'much higher qualified pilots are either waiting an interview' than the Monarch guys. Many of them have flown the A300 and A330 for years as both Captains and FOs. They also have countless sectors on Airbuses to their name - a very useful quality for long haul guys when take-offs and landings are in short supply. They come from a culture very similar to Virgin and seem to be a perfect fit. If I was a Virgin manager and was running a recruitment drive, I would start with a host of unemployed ex-Monarch pilots. Win-win for everyone - how much better does it get?