Latest Etihad Rumours
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: the high seas
Latest Etihad Rumours
Well seeing as this is a rumour network, would be interested to see if anyone can deny/confirm these various rumours that have been circulating. Please don't shoot the messenger! I am only repeating what I have heard elsewhere
1. Housing Allowance - further screw ups are planned (dubai issue was only the beginning) Now you will only receive what your rent is - e.g. 100k rent = 100k allowance and no more saving possible. Of course they won't pay more than the 160/170k.
2. Pay Rise - 3% pay rise on Basic (!), but in lieu of removal of all overtime payments (so now can fly 900hrs). Will hurt the 340 guys I would imagine.
3. Increase in dead-heading. Looking at many flights to see if they can get away with only 2 on some sectors where there are 3 and 3 where there are 4
4. Crippled expansion. Total back track on the "1 aircraft a month til 2020". Now apparently on average 5 per year for the next 6 as the airport itself is massively behind schedule and facing possible cancellation?
5. Continuation of rumour 4, AUH government wants to bid for EK outright, merge the fleets and make 1 national airline operating out of the new DWC airport - no point in building the new airport in AUH. High speed rail link planned to new Dubai Airport.
I understand recruitment is difficult at the moment so I presume we must have an excess of pilots or most of these policies don't make sense!
1. Housing Allowance - further screw ups are planned (dubai issue was only the beginning) Now you will only receive what your rent is - e.g. 100k rent = 100k allowance and no more saving possible. Of course they won't pay more than the 160/170k.
2. Pay Rise - 3% pay rise on Basic (!), but in lieu of removal of all overtime payments (so now can fly 900hrs). Will hurt the 340 guys I would imagine.
3. Increase in dead-heading. Looking at many flights to see if they can get away with only 2 on some sectors where there are 3 and 3 where there are 4
4. Crippled expansion. Total back track on the "1 aircraft a month til 2020". Now apparently on average 5 per year for the next 6 as the airport itself is massively behind schedule and facing possible cancellation?
5. Continuation of rumour 4, AUH government wants to bid for EK outright, merge the fleets and make 1 national airline operating out of the new DWC airport - no point in building the new airport in AUH. High speed rail link planned to new Dubai Airport.
I understand recruitment is difficult at the moment so I presume we must have an excess of pilots or most of these policies don't make sense!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 85
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From: Planet Earth
It's all a big circle on the 320 fleet. Management pilots and Instructors are having to fly the line because there is a 'pilot shortage'. New Instructors can't be trained because the other ones are flying the line or doing OPC checks only. New pilots can't be hired because their aren't enough instructors. New pilots are needed because old pilots are quitting. Old pilots are quitting because QOL, pay issues, and lack of career progression. 320 drivers fly more sectors, more actual flight hours(not resting in bunks), and have fewer days off, but earn less money than widebody counterparts. Cannot upgrade on 320 because new captains can't fly with cadets. Cannot CCQ to 330/340 because not enough trainers/pilot shortage/hiring direct entry widebody pilots. Cannot go to 777 fleet because the company prefers to hire outside Boeing drivers (per road show). Now forced to spend their housing money in AD. Endure the indignation of widebody pilots looking down their noses at them.... Management pilots not addressing this because... well.. they are busy flying the line during this unexplained pilot shortage.
If the 320 fleet were the best payed in the industry, and treated like a real airline rather than a faux low-cost, then more good pilots, trainers, and instructors would be lined up to be a part of the team. Instead the experienced 320 pilots are marching out the door because other airlines don't view them as either 1) profitability roadblock or 2) incapable of flying a widebody or a narrow body command.
If the 320 fleet were the best payed in the industry, and treated like a real airline rather than a faux low-cost, then more good pilots, trainers, and instructors would be lined up to be a part of the team. Instead the experienced 320 pilots are marching out the door because other airlines don't view them as either 1) profitability roadblock or 2) incapable of flying a widebody or a narrow body command.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 35
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From: U.K.
Here here!
Quite agree. Of course this should not reflect on the A320 fleet training manager -sorry why did four TRE's leave and why are the rest of the decent ones exasperated? Nor should it reflect on the any of his peers who have of course been monitoring and supporting all his activities and excellent management skills and been giving him the green light-that is before they had to go flying.
Had a cadet-sorry second officer the other night and he confirmed that many of them are going to go on the 330. Does this then mean no upgrades on the 330 either a la new captains not flying with SOs?
Just read email re training with all 320 training cancelled.
Didn't someone say at the last roadshow that the 320 fleet was in danger of imploding?
Had a cadet-sorry second officer the other night and he confirmed that many of them are going to go on the 330. Does this then mean no upgrades on the 330 either a la new captains not flying with SOs?
Just read email re training with all 320 training cancelled.
Didn't someone say at the last roadshow that the 320 fleet was in danger of imploding?
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 225
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From: MAN/Wherever
Hey! Just noticed an upside!! If they move to the new airport then we can live in DXB 
You guys should think about the poor Loadmasters that are about to start on the soon to be delivered A330F's, i.e. me. Accom allowance capped at 90K, apart from a flea pit, what am I going to find with that in AUH

You guys should think about the poor Loadmasters that are about to start on the soon to be delivered A330F's, i.e. me. Accom allowance capped at 90K, apart from a flea pit, what am I going to find with that in AUH
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 225
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From: MAN/Wherever
Oh yes Slopwith, they will gladly "give" me company accomodation....and relieve me of $2000 per month for the priviledge
unfurnished too....

So, if any of you guys can recommend accomodation for my meagre budget somewhere in the emirate?? Maybe in one of the compounds with the construction workers
unfurnished too....

So, if any of you guys can recommend accomodation for my meagre budget somewhere in the emirate?? Maybe in one of the compounds with the construction workers
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8
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From: Abu Dhabi
superspotter - short term take the company, majority of private rents force you into a yearly contract, usually paid up front. The company stuff (ey plaza etc) are usually pretty nice and actually better VFM then the private stuff but it's a shock compared to MAN prices ! You can get out of the company stuff with very little notice if you find something more suitable once on the ground.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 197
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From: North of 0
Gentlemen,
What's the accommodation situation like at the moment for guys joining? I hear that the villa's are out in the middle of no-where. A mate described the villas as beautiful, modern and comfortable but the moment you look out the windows you're hit with a depressed view of the desert in every direction.
Does Etihad Plaza consist of only apartments in terms of accommodation or are there villa's also?
Next are rosters on the 330/340 fleet. Do they hit you with a lot of east-west mixes or do they generally roster you to fly either east or westbound mostly on a monthly basis? Is fatigue a real problem at Etihad or do you find that you can enjoy your job and your life away from it as well still?
Standing by...
What's the accommodation situation like at the moment for guys joining? I hear that the villa's are out in the middle of no-where. A mate described the villas as beautiful, modern and comfortable but the moment you look out the windows you're hit with a depressed view of the desert in every direction.
Does Etihad Plaza consist of only apartments in terms of accommodation or are there villa's also?
Next are rosters on the 330/340 fleet. Do they hit you with a lot of east-west mixes or do they generally roster you to fly either east or westbound mostly on a monthly basis? Is fatigue a real problem at Etihad or do you find that you can enjoy your job and your life away from it as well still?
Standing by...
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Prague
Great yhey will just piss every single person off, sooner or later a good number will say enough. Fuel out the window etc. it looks like they want people to leave. I know of some guys that refused the interview or the job. I think they will change soon, they have to

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 130
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From: UAE
Heard it also from the CM on board last night.
Not usre how they are going to squeeze all that duty in, even with a DH sector back (or there) Max Duty on 1 sector at best time of day is 14 hours, so with a nighttime departure, how will it be achieved? Maybe for CC as they get the plus 1 hour on their duty and Minus 1 on rest?
Not usre how they are going to squeeze all that duty in, even with a DH sector back (or there) Max Duty on 1 sector at best time of day is 14 hours, so with a nighttime departure, how will it be achieved? Maybe for CC as they get the plus 1 hour on their duty and Minus 1 on rest?




