My only question about Emirates or anybody is whether you have to be able to spell CAPTAIN to be one. <bfg>....
And specifically on Emirates,why WOULDN'T they hire hire direct entry Captains on 777s or any airplane IF they needed them? If you need pilots, why not hire them? Just to make someone sit in the right seat for XXX hours or XXX years seems foolish. I am sure those in the right seat want to upgrade when they can,but any company's management makes that decision.