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Qatar salary reductions and redundancies 😬

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Qatar salary reductions and redundancies 😬

Old 19th Mar 2021, 10:40
  #701 (permalink)  
 
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Long story short...recently, 330 pilots that were made redundant went through the stressful check out procedure (losing their job, sending cargo home, telling wife and kids to quit school and work, cancel Rp, undersell furniture, cars etc.) have been called back in QR and offered Triple seven position. In some cases, some guys got the email only a few hours after the Final check out from the airline.

The funny part is that to rejoin QR; they need to do a PSA test...

They are just insane.
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 10:54
  #702 (permalink)  
 
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Insanity has long been the trademark in the sandpit, what else can be expected from people rich enough to afford to be stupid. A few hundred guys are out with a fully valid and still (not for long) current 777/787 rating and some thousand hours on type and they recall 330 guys ( that by the way have my total respect) to give them a full OCC and a full transition course for what? Having then a bond on them? Where is the whole point? Just showing that “they can do as they please”?
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 12:52
  #703 (permalink)  
 
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The MOI is not issuing RPs nor working permits, hence this is the reason why they called not only pilots leaving the cesspool, but also 330/380 pilots living there with no job.

The saddest part is after calling these pilots for another PSA and interview (under a huge amount of stress with the whole situation) , some unfortunately were failed in the process...
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 13:12
  #704 (permalink)  
 
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Most of the 330 guys recalled are already home, their RP canceled, cars sold, home rent closed, furniture and clothing in a container on a ship. Their separation has taken a full month from letter to departure and the Wobblies come up with their recall twelve hours before they climb on an airplane? If this is not insanity on an industrial level...
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 13:32
  #705 (permalink)  
 
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Who are the recalled pilots ?
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 13:45
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So they're recalling pilots and firing at the same time sounds like absolute madness at play. Why the hell didn't they just put people on a retainer or leave without pay and keep the skill base on the books for when things pickup instead of this fire and rehire with some kind of selection testing I assume that's what PSA is?
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 18:29
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Python27

Just to correct this, MOI are issuing RPs
As well a RP cancelled less then a year is a simple cluck on metrash by the employer to reinstate, you just go and collect the RP or get it delivered for a few Qar.

I know this and have used that.
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Old 19th Mar 2021, 19:04
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They know pretty well that when things get better many pilots will runaway. A good way to keep them is by giving a new BOND...That's why they fire and rehire.

Fair enough, I understand Qr needs to cut costs, save money and reorganise certain policies. But they don't have any title to play with PILOTS families. This, for me, is very childish.
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Old 21st Mar 2021, 17:44
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Took me sometime to read all of this post and if i am honest, i did not read all of it, so prepare for my message to have repeats on what was mentioned or contradicting points of others. But let us try to analyse what is really going on in Akbar Airways (No offence implied)

Qatar Airways grew to one of the biggest airlines in the world and AB was a driving hand in this process. True, no one on this forum can deny that as a fact, the airline is huge. Planes, crew, quality, destinations, etc. They got it...and they got it in a short time period. Some websites ( i actually thinks it is AB PR ) called it an aviation's miracle story. But ask yourself, why has this happened to QA? Why other airlines cannot have this fairy tale story? Well the AB brown noses will say it is because of their 'superior leader'... And I personally won't call him a rubbish leader, i work here and never even seen him, never had an interaction with him, never even met someone who knows him personally ( Introvert here!) but at the same time, I wont say he is the reason for the airline's apparent success. Many great aviation managers/ceo had their airlines run to the ground and it's not always a reflection on their leadership... The reality is, QA has a trick up their sleeve... QG (Qatar Gas).... Qatar the tiny country with the highest GDP per capita. Reading those words you prob won't grasp the magnitude of that kind of money. Qatar is able to make money in a world where natural gas can sell below 1 usd. The amount of money they have currently and will make in the future is ridiculous... i repeat, ridiculous! And anyone who visits Doha can see that billions are spent on everything; beautification, infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, pride and QA. Specifically last year almost 2 billion spent on the airline alone. Believe me when i say, 2 billion for the country Qatar is pocket change. Airlines that lose 2bil$ won't still be a topic of discussion. So AB built the 'greatest' airline with a unlimited supply of money... Unfortunately with most people starting/running any company, with a decent understanding of anything (business related) and an unlimited supply of CHA CHING, would probably have the same outcome. But how do we rate QA as the best airline in the world? Do we check profits? Do we check staff's happiness? Do we check only PAX numbers and/reviews? Because in many other aspects QA would fail being this amazing airline. Point being, QA is the success because of 1 major factor, money. Does this mean as an employee here I hate it? Maybe-Maybe not but which job doesn't have you thinking like that? So don't get this idea i am trying to make the airline sound bad, does not change the reality of the matter...

So this bottomless pit of money and resources. Corona came around the corner... what did airlines around the world do? Well the UK got furlough, that saved many airlines (easyjet).... Since March 2020 i know of pilots and cabin crew who haven't even been working, but still have their jobs, until further notice. BA fired and rehired on some contracts, Lufthansa always got their together, regardless of the situation presented to them... The airlines of America (united, AA and Delta) got government funding for sometime (cannot remember how long now) etc. etc. Point being airlines took initiative and showed interest in their staff... they understood what commitment and loyalty is... and yes, this was done due to the governments backing these airlines...but what is up with Ackbar Airways? From the most recent numbers I believe it is almost 1500 pilots fired (30 - 40%) and a billion cabin crew (sarcasm) while also having the richest country in the world funneling cash when needed into the airline. But do a quick google search and you can barely find any of the news of this happening. WORST YET, Al Jazeera had a news segment on the airlines in the world struggling due to the pandemic but not ONCE had their mentioned their state own airline struggling or firing staff, but believe me, the didnt forget to mention Emirates firing 'X number of pilots' or how Virgin is on the brink of collapse.

So what is the point? Why have all this money to waste, all this willingness to show pride and boast about an airline, but not boast about the significantly important factors. eg. "Qatar Airways saved 97% jobs during pandemic." I personally know of guys/gals who would have taken leave without pay for a year or 2 ( Just like Emirates) or temporary salary reductions if it would have helped the airline survive (not like they needed the money actually) and for/and them to keep their jobs. The culture in this airline is sometimes so contradicting because you have clearly see what they have done over the past few months to look good, "The biggest airline per customers repatriated during the pandemic," or " largest airline to exist during the pandemic." Basically, we look good because we provided a service when no one else could have. YES AMAZING, GREAT QATAR AIRWAYS! You look so good to people at the expense of what ? Firing your staff. But think about this... flight flew from point A to B with sometimes; single digit numbers of PAX and PROB some cargo, to fly back to Doha, with significant money lost. No way are they capable of making a profit or breaking. They lost money on those flights, but that doesn't matter because to them, it looks really good to PR. Run a non profitable flight vs keep your staff? Have you seen how the firing is done? How hush hush the airline is keeping it? Does anyone who got fired have any promise/ contract to come back? Like a contract? Is the few words AB said on his interviews all that is required? How confident is anyone here to say that QA will attempt to hire all who their fired? Even if, what percentage will they attempt to bring back? 90%? 5%?

So, pilots fired...To then do what? Rehire eventually with packages that are sooo much rubbish? but you THINK people would take it because of the world's current situation? But oh my! The asian, african and european markets are starting to rehire, and more to come soon. Yes, most people come to the Middle East Airlines to just make money and leave... here you are a number, here you are a labourer... but this is the reason why no one will EVER look at QA and show commitment to them. Take away QA's unlimited supply of money and see how quickly they will burn to the ground. How quickly their superior leader will have no airline to show. See how quickly they will be begging for people to be loyal. Investing in your product also includes your workers too, not just the business class seat, new planes, dining, etc.

Last update I've heard is Feb 2021 pilots were still being fired, but aren't they rehiring now? Rehiring on the boeing fleets. Now this is a 2 sided point, just me rattling;

So you fired guys on the boeing fleet, now are calling them back to get rehired. Yes nice, great as a matter a fact. But at the same time people on airbus 320 are getting fired. Why can't you just do fleet transfers from the 320 to the 777 or 787? ( yes i know this is the 2 sided part; boeing pilots get back jobs and little to no retraining required by bringing back these guys) There is no easy solution here....

From what i've gathered the 320 fleet holds Second Officers, Cadet Pilots and MPL pilots. These are the guys getting fired. Honestly, these are the only pilots who i truly believe show commitment, these are the guys who they should have kept! The ones who bleed QA. The ones who trained years not to be a pilot, but to be YOUR PILOT! For those who are in the MPL Programmes and are now not flying, i am speaking for everyone in this and all forums here, I am very sorry. I have no idea what you all are able to do now and unlike CPL guys, you all are trapped with QA. There really is not any other airline that I currently know of who would even consider you all and don't let me start with those MPL's who are not european ( heard of a few of them) MPL is not even a real license outside of Europe. Really feel for those sorry souls. Unlike the CPL guys, once the industry picks up, they are very likely to get a job. You guys are just waiting on the grace of QA, after investing so much into them! Sorry to say, there is a chance you just invested 100k GBP to never fly again. QA really did slap one in your face. These (SO, Cadets, MPL) are the people who the could have kept; cheap, competent, loyal, very little down side. Now, I wonder if they will even return... because the fleets are streamlining ( rumour) to only 350 787 777. Goodbye 320 SO, Cadets, MPL.

When QA started firing the fleets that took the biggest hit were the 330 and 787. 330 was a bit understandable because it was supposed to be a dying fleet and it is really good to know that now they are calling back the 330 guys to fill the 777 spots, but 787 apparently is going back in demand over the 320 and this demand makes sense! It can be cheaper to run a 787 vs a 320. So, why fire soo many 787 guys? And the reason was not to keep 320, because those poor bastards are getting let go now....What was the thought process when the firing had to be made. What was the conversation that led to the HR/separations department on firing pilots? Random? As someone above mentioned; think of the most logical thing to do and QA will not do that! =D

From the pilots I have spoken to, currently 777 aviators are being burnt out. So many hours per month. QA mistakes will start to show soon. 777 guys are actually leaving! Let me emphasis again, Qatar Airways 777 pilots are LEAVING THEIR JOBS! At a time where a flying job is something you want to hold! ( back to loyalty again) The demand for these guys are so high right now, pandemic or not. Hence such a need for boeing operations. And in my opinion this world wide demand will only get greater!

The 380 is not flying. So these pilots have been transferred to other fleets or fired. Actually rumours are that 380's are to go back operational pretty soon. It could be a matter of months, which is good news, but who would really fly it? The original pilots are either fired (and may or may not come back, since most of them went back home and got 320 TR to get another job) or on another fleet (777 or 350.) And, it is such a risk to get a TR on that airplane now... in a few years they will be out of most airlines.

Another deeper hole for QA? How differently things could have been handled. It is a really sad thing to watch how better things could have been handled. But thats is just one of the huge problem for us here in QA Management. Everyone is scared. No thinking is actually done, it is just orders taken. ' The airline needs to cut cost!' ok just start firing!!! don't think! just FIRE! I look at things happen here time and time again and say to myself, if someone just stop, think and we all work together things could have been so much better. The worst part is still yet to come, because we eventually need to hire and that is where the hard part will come. If you think that keeping staff was going to cost, when the industry picks back up QA will now have to spend significantly more just to motivate pilots to come. Once again, the money for Qatar as a shareholder is not the problem. Money is there, but now Qatar Airways just took a big hit and they do not even know it yet. Such a pity.

But what is the next move from Qatar Airways? No one really knows... we talk here all about rumours, but nothing is ever really factual until it comes to pass. And why no one really knows is because QA doesn't know themself. It looks like they are making it up as the go along. Competency training is not just something for the cockpit, in my opinion it should be something implemented everywhere. Thinking what if and what happens next. I wish for nothing more than for everyone to get their jobs back or whatever everyone wants for them to be happy/content again. But that is not really what is happening right now, some of you guys are reading this back in your home countries reading this now, waiting to come back, some pilots I've heard are stuck in Doha almost a year now, with nothing in sight. So this community here is your informal support group! Keep up the posting guys! keep up the messages, the rumours, the good and bad talks. This what we have....
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 12:14
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Very Detailed Observation... 👏
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 19:36
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Every expat knows that any and all managers go out of their way to CYA ( their own ) Well known to stab you in the back to make themselves look good . All pilots are to Them are skilled labours . I'm not sure the industry will bounce back for al expats pilots to find work , maybe if willing/ able to wait a few years . CAE still forcasting huge shortage but who knows. LH saying permanent reduction of @15% and significant reduction in premium Pax revenue. Good luck to all those caught up in this.
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 21:26
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Thumbs up

Very well said!
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 21:48
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 21:48
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Well said Immapostthis

Also a photo regarding CAE
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Old 22nd Mar 2021, 22:04
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I agree , it's wishful thinking . But some are pinning their hopes on it .
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Old 23rd Mar 2021, 09:06
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Just received this;

Hi,...
Hope you are well.

I came upon your profile while doing a search as I'm currently working on a Doha-based role for Qatar Airways that I think might be interesting for you.............etc,etc,etc
Kind Regards

Recruitment business Partner Qatar Airways
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Old 23rd Mar 2021, 09:50
  #717 (permalink)  
 
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be carefull man.. most probably a fraud message if they ask for money for any purpose.. dont fall into trap..
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Old 23rd Mar 2021, 11:23
  #718 (permalink)  
 
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I've seen some scammers advertising positions in goat airlines using EK and EY photos. I believe this is one of the crooks.

But I'm sure some naive colleagues will get pretty excited with your post... !
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Old 25th Mar 2021, 19:41
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Under what conditions is QR rehiring? The already effective 25% cut only?
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Old 25th Mar 2021, 20:17
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QR is not rehiring .. as far as I know
maybe a few people who were still in Doha with valid and not canceled RPs
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