BA Direct Entry Pilot.

[CXKA]

From HK its about a 60% cut but you have to look at the bigger picture, cost of housing, standard of living and pollution. Personally for me its an easy decision to return home, money is not everything.

[Mizar]

What about BA's part in the purchase of Niki by IAG? Does anyone think it is going to be a positive aspect for recruitment?

[dirk85]

Well they have committed to hire Niki pilots as part of the deal, I doubt that will affect BA recruitment much.

Plus the conditions at Niki were beyond awful, and I do not expect them to improve.

[GS-Alpha]

It is reported that Niki is to operate as a Veuling subsiduary so it is highly unlikely to have any effect on BA recruitment.

[Retrojet]

Looks like BA are wet leasing Qatar aircraft...but at least its only for a short time...possibly just to get the ex monarch slots expansion going....

"British Airways Plc applied on 4 December 2017 to wet lease six Qatar registered Airbus A320 aircraft, registrations A7-LAA, A7-LAB, A7-LAC, A7-LAD, A7-LAE, and A7-LAF, between 9 February and 9 April 2017 inclusive.
The application has been made on the grounds that the lease is justified on the basis of exceptional needs (Article 13(3)(b)(i) of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008) to enable British Airways to support passenger operations due to late delivery of aircraft."

http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2258.pdf

[G SXTY]

I think there will be quite a few LH aircraft rated in the pool also looking to join from ME and HK airlines.

That would be some serious pay cut and reduction in benefits!

About a 50% pay cut in my case.

As for 'benefits', let's put it this way. I now have union protection and no longer fly to war zones, or have to endure 45 degree heat and dust, infuriating bureaucracy, mad locals razzing their Ferraris at 3am, 'wasta', the call to prayer, punitive company culture, etc etc.

BA ain't perfect, but it's a lot better than most alternatives, and a different world compared to what's on offer in the Middle East. Wild horses couldn't drag me back to the pit.

[embraerFObmi]

200 plus pilots needed in 2018

from the horses mouth today - 200-250 pilots needed this year alone due expansion... No news whether LH or SH or DE pilots/white tails

but great news for any swimmers!

[GS-Alpha]

I’ve heard we’re no longer scrapping any 747s in 2018.

[student88]

I've heard BA are about to sign a deal for 20 747-8s

[RexBanner]

Still three months to go until April 1st.

[RHINO]

Ah yes RexBanner but that does not mean there was not the odd wetdream last night.....

[FACoff]

Can anyone elaborate? Is 200-250 genuine?

[RexBanner]

Haven’t seen anything on yammer or the usual channels to elaborate further but I recently had a four day trip with a trainer and he quoted the same figure.

[EllanVannin]

It came from a Chief Pilot video. A figure of 200 was mentioned. Interestingly, this is before the impact of the Monarch slots is taken account of. Good luck to all those in the pool. Sounds positive to me.

[RudderTrimZero]

How many in the hold pool right now? I would guess less than 50 FPPs would be ready this year?

[Retrojet]

Seems that all the new routes/expansion from the monarch slots have been announced on BAs website.....all Europe beach/leisure routes!

[student88]

60 FPPs to join from Dec 17 onwards.. I thought we only had 100 in the hold pool.

[Northern Monkey]

Retrojet

Whatever the plan for them is in the short term, I don't think you can draw any conclusions about their use beyond 2018. It may well be the plan to transfer them slowly across to long haul as was/is the case with the BMI slots at Heathrow.

[Retrojet]

Fair enough....but even for short term....good news for TR'd guys and girls, well I guess it depends on the leasing of Qatar and Titan aircraft initially and then what ever happens in terms of sourcing extra aircraft

[Jet Set Willie]

BA Cityflyer now flying some of the routes till the end of the year at least confirmed.