EK Salary Review Time Again
 

It's that time of year again for the annual review of pilot remuneration at EK.

Expectations seem to vary from highly optimistic to nothing at all. What can pilots look forward to, if anything?

As I see it here are the potential elements for change:

• An increase in the Salary Scale. Apart from a 0.5% increase, the basic Salary Scale has not changed since May 2011. An FO joining at Level 1 in 2022 is earning 0.5% more than one who joined after May 2011. (That’s about USD 50 increase in a decade)
• A step of 3%. Originally this was a Step up the salary scale based on loyalty and experience. The Salary Scale has 35 steps in it. Each year a pilot would move up one step. In 2009 the company withheld the Step for 2 years during the GFC and then resumed the steps in 2011. Once again they stopped in 2019. There has been no Step since then.
• Increase in Flying Pay. This has not increased since May 2018 when it was raised by 5%
• Increase in Accommodation Allowance. This was reduced, for the first time ever, by 15% in 2020.
• Increase in Productivity Pay. This was last increased in May 2018 when it was increased by 10%
• Reimbursement of the 50% salary withheld for Company cash flow for 6 months in 2020. A four-week “Ex Gratia” payment was made earlier this year. No explanation was given leading to the assumption by many that this was the first of 3 payments to refund the 2020 deductions. A Fly Dubai payment approximately refunding salary lost seemed to reinforce this theory. However, no further payments followed and queries relating to it went unanswered. One would think that this would be refunded in due course before bonuses and profits were dished out as that would seem the decent thing to do, but hope for this is waning.
• Profit Share. Highly unlikely as there are large losses to recuperate.
• Bonus. These generally only apply to management above a certain level so not likely to be applicable to those who flew into the pandemic and all that risked and entailed.
• Education Allowances. This is largely driven by the costs of schooling in Dubai.
• Return of additional 3% Provident Fund contribution for long-term pilots. This is likely gone forever. It was a remanent from the days when long service was more valued and appreciated.

What will happen remains to be seen but should be announced in the next 2 weeks assuming the May review happens as in previous years.

Inflation is already biting hard in Dubai as it follows the rest of the world. Food prices are soaring leaving many reluctant to spend on travel. Interest rates will rise fast making loans harder to pay and making travel a nonessential expense. Fuel prices are high which is never good for aviation, particularly with a fleet of 4 engine jets. There is a strong chance of recession around the world. China seems to be intent on lockdown forever, disrupting supply chains thereby contributing to the inflationary effects. The fact that the Chinese cannot travel will also dent loads and yields. And of course, the devastating war in Ukraine will have many knock-on effects in relation to energy and food prices.

All in all a grim outlook and IMHO unlikely to foster generosity for a pay review.

While there is a steady stream of resignations, attrition remains below 5% with pilots and on the other side, there is a steady stream of new joiners and rejoiners. Most however have a very short horizon to stay as they look for jobs closer to home or seek to go back to a different life they discovered having been made redundant. Many pilots are simply jaded with the profession, as it offers little security, much fatigue, loss of family life, and ever-diminishing rewards.

In real terms a pilots take home in the Middle East has decreased by 60% in the last 2 decades and the trajectory is ever downwards. Perhaps something to consider before uprooting the family to come here. But then there are not a lot of choices as the trend has been industry-wide. In fact more and more seem to seek an exit from the profession completely.

I know one thing with almost absolute certainty: In a year’s time we will be 5-10% worse off in terms of purchasing power and saving potential than we are before the imminent Salary Review. Nonetheless, we can live in hope that the Review will offer some respite.

Will be less than I hope for and more than I expect. For sure will be less than I am worth.

Unfortunately, They can get plenty of qualified captain with 50% pay cut at the moment. Not to mention pay increase.

I think you’ll find its the same situation in most countries in Europe also. Still many more benefits financially in EK than most EU “big” airlines post covid. Our company has had a pay freeze for 5 years and with the highest inflation rate in most Western Europe has no intent to offer any rise (not even 0.5%) . The grass is all brown.

pretty sad.. I even think there's no such as excellent pay for expat (i.e. china) like before.
Except for U.S.A, crazy hiring and pilot shortage.

Whilst that is true, they are severely constrained by training limitations. As a result, it is in their interest to reduce the outflow. I suspect retention is going to become an issue. People are far more attuned to the "expat" risk of working in another country - I expect to be compensated for that risk. Jobs are becoming available elsewhere and opportunities will continue to grow - I will be looking at them with a vastly different perspective to pre-covid. My priorities have been sharply honed by recent events and whilst it's a good job, ALL that matters is whether it is bringing home the bread, or not.

Emirates/Qatar Contract
 

Hey guys im a CX FO looking to jump ship since CX massive paycut. Does anyone have a copy of Emirates or Qatar contract so I can compare the package? I am happy to share CX "toilet paper" contract for those who is crazy enough to move to hk. Thanks.

They don’t use toilet paper in the Middle East.

You must be pretty desperate to return/apply to EK nowadays.

Europe’s massively picking up and U.S. running into a pilot shortage.

If you have not managed to get a decent job outside the Middle East yet, something went wrong, seriously!

Whatever, been there, done that, got that T-Shirt - good luck to all of you…

I don’t think so.

Europe is still quite a bit down on 2019 levels. Companies still not recruiting in droves. Legacy’s definitely not this year just taking back those made redundant and those that are in hold pools.
RYR and Wizz only companies flying more than 2019 but they have just filled gaps from carriers gone under. RYR crews still on the 20% pay cut and flying max hours again and have been for a year now.

Inflation rates going to bite and slow things down again. 7.8% average Euro zone. Netherlands at 11%!!! Others more.
Turkey inflations at what 60% currently!!!

I doubt salaries are going to go up anywhere outside of US.

desperate to go back
yes and no
If you look into the names who are going back and can’t wait for, I assume most of them have a big time Problem to go somewhere else by the terms of their licenses
as UK lic holders you can only stay in UK or go back to ME
If you don’t have an EASA lic or FAA lic ( and if you have a FAA lic, you still don’t have a green card - which is a lengthy and costly thing to do) you are not going anywhere else then back to EK

Can you provide proof of the MASSIVE opportunities in Europe?

Theres an 8% inflation record in the UK and there are no airlines hiring even though flying had picked up. Many airlines still on covid contracts or pay freezes. Yes you’re right things are picking up but salaries or opportunities are down.

Mercifully, unions are banned in the UAE. Without threats and intimidation to unnaturally disguise an employee's value, what is revealed is the market value of any employee.

Whatever Emirates is offering, it is the current value of a widebody pilot based in Dubai.

You can't argue with market economics.

I think that's his fantasy.

I know people recently employed by DHL, Ryanair, Norse, Vistajet, OneAir ……. So not quite a fantasy.

Same situation here in Indonesia, as i work in biggest LCC in the country. Massive pay cut ranging 70-90% starts in 2020 without any information about the payback. LOFT and OPC seems to be harder it's planned to be held once per 3 months. I think they're try to squeeze the pilots here, so we can break the contracts and pay the penalty. Clever enough 😬

Numbers are not "Massive".

I have heard of a few employed by those companies and also heard of a fair few who were at the interviews from EK and didn’t get positions. Not forgetting for UK licence holders there isn’t anything. Getting back an EASA will set you back ££££.
EASA Intial C1 £800-£1k, has to be done with a registered EU EASA medical place, in the UK that’s either Birmingham or London. EU it’s easier, outside of that good luck.
Skills test. Name your price. (£1-3k).
EASA English test (yes even if a native speaker) £200.
CAA fee £45.
EASA licence fee, varies £400-£600.

These fees are the basics so without travel etc etc.

Say £3k minimum. That’s just to be able to apply to most of the companies on your list.
Oh and some now asking for ability to reside in EU land. UK passport/licence holders are extremely limited now. I hold EASA and UK now which has opened many more doors. For UK peeps it’s very limited.

Flybe have started operations again (operating Q400) after going under March 2020. FO salary used to be £29k starting and could add around £10k to that with duty pay etc. Capt £71k with again £10k added.
Same aircraft I have heard they are now offering FO £25kish without all the extras. Captains around £50k.

Welcome to 2022 post COVID.

That’s just to be able to apply to most of the companies on your list.

Ryanair are looking for Learjet pilots with UK FCL
DHL UK wanted UK FCL
Norse wanted UK FCL
OneAir wanted UK FCL

Vistjet is the only one in that list that needs EASA

You never stated RYR Learjet.
Anyway let’s look into more detail.

For Norse you can have UK FCL but complete the transfer to EASA before starting your position.

Of those DHL the best.

OneAir my friend was offered a start date months ago but still hasn’t started. They keep delaying. I think Captain salty at OneAir was what £90k? 747 Captain £90k? Seriously?

The RYR Learjet position is horrible. You only have to go on to flight radar and look at the type of flights it does. Lots of sitting around at airports on standby and most of the crews want to leave.

And all of them hardly airlines with massive fleets taking 100s of pilots.

edit: To add the OneAir needed 747 TR to apply as well.

From all the pilots made redundant from flybe the ones with jobs I know either:
1. Have an EASA licence
2. Gone to Asia/ME.
3. Had connections within Private Jet sector.
4. Managed to get back into Flybe 2.0 but on a package far far worse than before.

Great airlines to choose from.

With EASA you have many many more options.