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-   -   EK to Decommission 50%+ of Airbus A380, Axe 1/2 of Pilots & Cabin Crew (https://www.pprune.org/middle-east/632542-ek-decommission-50-airbus-a380-axe-1-2-pilots-cabin-crew.html)

krismiler 10th Jun 2020 05:01

If a program was used it could have been relatively simple, such as total number of sick days or it could have been more advanced and looked for specific patterns such as one or two days per month which could suggest misuse but exclude a single block which would imply a genuine illness. Only the upper levels know the exact markers used and the importance given to them.

A company the size of Emirates would have contingency plans drawn up to cater for various scenarios such as natural disasters, civil unrest etc, but I doubt many operators were prepared for a downturn on this scale or a sudden reduction in crew numbers which might approach 20%.

aviation_enthus 10th Jun 2020 05:09


Originally Posted by krismiler (Post 10807222)
Unfortunately, with the number of pilots employed and the number being let go, the human touch probably wasn't possible. Reviewing the files of around 4000 flight crew, even if only 10 minutes was spent on each one would take around 660 hours or 16 weeks at 8 hours per day. Obviously this would be reduced if more people were involved, but you would want to have relatively senior people making the assesssments.

Having the IT department write up a short program to trawl through the records and fish up specific markers such as warning letters or excessive sick leave was likely to have been the quickest option.

Once a company gets above a certain size, putting faces to names becomes impossible and you are just a number. In a much smaller company, the Chief Pilot might know each of his crew personally and have his own chop list based on individual performance and merits.

You’re making the assumption that this was only decided a couple of days ago.

EK has been effectively grounded since the end of March. It’s been 10 weeks since then. So having a team of senior people working on a list would certainly have been possible. Given the company has already been reviewing sick leave and training performance for various reasons already, half the task was probably already done. Blind Freddie could see this coming on the horizon and any company with half a brain would have been running planning exercises on various scenarios since this all went downhill.

I’m not going to sit here and defend the way it’s been handled. However we all knew what we signed up for when we got here. I for one was under no illusion that seniority would protect you, the local labour laws are NOT what you have back in most western countries.

We came here to have fun, travel and make some silver. The company in return gets my service for a couple of years. Beyond that, nothing. I think that’s a fair transaction and that appears to be all EK want from us. Besides, show me an expat airline anywhere on the planet that treats its expats the same as locals.

Good luck to all those affected. It’s not over yet, all we have to hold on to is our health and family. After all that’s all that really matters.

flyguy332 10th Jun 2020 05:12


Originally Posted by 5star (Post 10806878)
And to rub it in a bit more, it would seem that as ou local colleagues are on a different contract, they are all on full pay while expats can bleed for 6 months....
I am disgusted at what is going on....

That is not true

White Knight 10th Jun 2020 14:02

Thread is for and about EK.... Let’s keep it that way!

felixthecat 10th Jun 2020 15:02


Originally Posted by krismiler (Post 10807222)
Unfortunately, with the number of pilots employed and the number being let go, the human touch probably wasn't possible. Reviewing the files of around 4000 flight crew, even if only 10 minutes was spent on each one would take around 660 hours or 16 weeks at 8 hours per day. Obviously this would be reduced if more people were involved, but you would want to have relatively senior people making the assesssments.

Having the IT department write up a short program to trawl through the records and fish up specific markers such as warning letters or excessive sick leave was likely to have been the quickest option.

Once a company gets above a certain size, putting faces to names becomes impossible and you are just a number. In a much smaller company, the Chief Pilot might know each of his crew personally and have his own chop list based on individual performance and merits.

If guys and gals with anywhere from 10-20 years given in service of the company, cant be given 10 minutes by management to properly review their carriers and performance prior to making life changing decisions to the future of their whole lives, it is disgusting.

fatbus 10th Jun 2020 15:06

Totally agree!

givemewings 10th Jun 2020 15:08


Originally Posted by Tatin1 (Post 10807022)
Gents, just a quick reminder : although you are in the UAE, you still have Labour Law. If you organise yourselves, you can get class action and renumeration.

Also you can individually sue your manager if you find that he or she does not follow the UAE rules. Forget about the emotional side though.

Might be worthwhile.

You're forgetting they love to invoke the "but we're in a Free Zone" clause whenever it suits aka the "Labour Law Doesn't Apply" cop out..

Sad it's come to this. At the time being basically forced to quit because it became untenable seemed a waste. Now it's a blessing in disguise from what I read here.

Good luck to those still over there

felixthecat 10th Jun 2020 15:20

Not so long ago I was being shown my parametric performance and attendance graphs, and was told they were very good. Now Halas.......

5star 10th Jun 2020 18:58

It is a very sad state of affairs and those who lost their job will certainly go through very tough times. i think most of us knew this was coming but none of us expected this punch below the belt. No respect for seniority and mainly based on sickness or someone not liking your face... or by using some sort of insourced lowball IT algoritm....It is beyond belief and lacks any form of human touch binning people who have 15 years plus of impeccable service and are mostly fully settled in the ME.
The same people that are in control of this cutting exercise are the ones who signed us up on the 140plus 380
disaster and last year also hanged us on a 50 percent fuel hedging deal well into deep 2022 at an oil price of $55. (read the EK 2020 financial report, its all there in black and white)...I guess someone has to pay now for these mistakes...
For those who are remaining...I think it is wise to start working on plan B.
Good luck to all.

exekcabincrew 10th Jun 2020 19:19

Several CC just got an email saying their meeting is cancelled. Everyone knows what the "meeting" is about and now they just cancelled it without explaining what is happening, if it will be rescheduled or if the cc who received the email were spared. This reminds one of those fake executions to suppress the will of prisoners.

The way EK is handling this is beyond shameful.

As a little side-bitching, can someone explain me how STC still has the "S"?.. from Quora, how to be nominated for a Sir title: "Has your nominee:

made a difference to their community or field of work

brought distinction to British life and enhanced its reputation

exemplified the best sustained and selfless voluntary service

demonstrated innovation and entrepreneurship

carried the respect of their peers

changed things, with an emphasis on achievement

improved the lot of those less able to help themselves

displayed moral courage and vision in making and delivering tough choices"

Erm... Which one of the above did this individual do/has not undone yet with this way of treating people under this person's responsibility?

What a disgrace.

fatbus 10th Jun 2020 20:16

Meeting were temporarily cnxd. I'm not going into details as I'm sure everyone hear soon enough. EK should be held accountable for the way this was handled . Managers at all level are useless.
standby for another classic Dubai cover up / not my fault excuse.

Calmcavok 10th Jun 2020 21:05

If the rumour I’ve just heard is true, then the meetings being cancelled is the least they can do. The way this has been handled is totally unfair, un-transparent and leaves every single employee stressed to an almighty level about their future, with only silence from the top. All whilst many are still operating.

exekcabincrew 10th Jun 2020 21:18

If this is confirmed, criminal charges should be presented against the responsible ones for the process. :mad: sickening.

pjszms 10th Jun 2020 21:22

Rumour has it that one Pilot has attempted suicide and two cabin crew have committed suicide that is why meetings have been cancelled

EchoKilla 10th Jun 2020 21:46

where do you get this sort of obnoxious BS?? No time for this sort of jibberish :yuk:


EchoKilla 10th Jun 2020 21:47

sigh tough anxious days.... :(


Originally Posted by fatbus (Post 10807923)
Meeting were temporarily cnxd. I'm not going into details as I'm sure everyone hear soon enough. EK should be held accountable for the way this was handled . Managers at all level are useless.
standby for another classic Dubai cover up / not my fault excuse.


Neektu 11th Jun 2020 00:52


Originally Posted by Tatin1 (Post 10807022)
Gents, just a quick reminder : although you are in the UAE, you still have Labour Law. If you organise yourselves, you can get class action and renumeration.

Also you can individually sue your manager if you find that he or she does not follow the UAE rules. Forget about the emotional side though.

Might be worthwhile.

It seems you don’t know the place

v1r8 11th Jun 2020 00:56

Absolutely in shock and disgusted how EK management has no regard for human life and dignity. We get that you may have to downsize, but out of seniority and signaling that every little thing can and will be used against co-workers at some point is absolutely disgusting.

My heart goes out to all my cockpit and cabin colleagues and your families.

Remember. There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in.

stevieboy330 11th Jun 2020 00:58

I for one will NEVER travel on Emirates again or visit the Middle East I'll fly right past the whole place. The way Crew have been betrayed & treated is utterly inexcusable.
I hope that whole city gets gobbled up by the desert & all those greedy Arab Nationals who have destroyed all those peoples lives end up with nothing. It is gut wrenching to think of all those good people, partners and children being spat on and chucked out like dirty garbage, just shameful. Emirates management YOU ARE THE WORST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. F YOU !
You plundered the education skills, training and very specialised expertise of all those expats so that you could get rich and then dumped them when times got a little tough, disgraceful !!!!
Management - I hope you all die tonight for the way you have handled this.

fliion 11th Jun 2020 00:58

Emirates pilots.
Never forget who or what we are, and were.
Our common bond and spirit;
camaraderie and professionalism;
commitment to safety;
acceptance of diversity
For the vast majority of us - we honored our profession.
Through the skies on those dark weary nights - we laughed and joked, scowled and debated.
We shared wine and flavor across the globe.
Above all we cared for those who we were entrusted with - our passengers.
And as the years of service turned to decades, we hoped:
To quote Auliq:
“Respect is earned. Honesty is appreciated. Trust is gained. Loyalty is returned.”
Twas not to be.


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