Kilo, I agree - it's not just the 5/4 they're screwing about with (shifting some folks' patter back and forth or implementing 5/3 in any base that doesn't ask how high when they say jump), but bases - at least 15 bases have pilots (permanent staff, not just contractors) being sent to other bases repeatedly for a week at a time, principally STN and DUB (but not exclusively). They say it's a one-off for this winter, but every time they they try something of this nature and get away with it, it becomes the norm. My bet is that it's a gradual move to doing away with base allocations entirely and they'll move people around at their whim.

So, J2 guys, be glad you just have rostering issues!

Jet2 seem to be very adversarial towards their crew, both flight deck and cabin. We're seen as an expensive necessity. We are literally Human Resources to be used and abused. Turnover isn't high just at the coal face, but in the back office too, meaning you have a spotty youngster telling a grizzled skipper the way of the world. You can imagine how that goes down!
Jet2 could do themselves a world of good by actually listening to and dealing with their crew in an adult and professional manner.

Flying wild
 

From what i have heard from a good few J2 crew there is zero chance of that happening anytime soon, comes from working for someone who is regarded as a rude foul mouthed MOL wannabe, least MOL is funny with it!!

LNIDA, "rude foul mouthed MOL wannabe" From what I have heard about NPU negotiations in the past , that accusation could probably be applied to someone "closer to home" for us :} (looks like the same head of teeth here ! )

Jet2 Autumn 2014
 

Any updates on Jet2's plans for permanent positions? Is it only temp contract crew until next season?

From what I have heard and experienced , most of the guys that are joining or have joined in the last six months have all been offered a permanent 100% contract. I'm starting soon and can't actually wait. Having just done a tour of the Middle East airlines over the last few weeks , Jet2 seems like my best option for me to make the most of a working life balance. Being at my home base , a reasonable package and more importantly being able to see my kids grow up and walk the dog. Whilst all my friends at the yellow harp are off to Emirates and such , Jet2 for me offer the perfect package five minutes from my house.

trading statement
 

Trading Statement
Fri, 13th Mar 2015 07:00
RNS Number : 3374H
Dart Group PLC
13 March 2015

13 March 2015

Dart Group PLC ("the Group")

Trading Statement 13 March 2015

Dart Group PLC, the Leisure Travel and Distribution & Logistics group, is pleased to give the following update on trading.

The Board believes that Group underlying operating profit(1) for the year ending 31 March 2015 will be ahead of current market expectations and broadly in line with last year (2014: £49.2m), as a result of lower than anticipated winter losses.

Looking ahead to the year ending 31 March 2016, forward bookings in the Leisure Travel business for summer 2015 are encouraging, with over 50% of the season having already been sold, which is ahead of where we were at this stage last year.

The Distribution & Logistics business, Fowler Welch, continues to focus on growing its revenue pipeline and developing existing and new business opportunities.

The Group intends to further develop and grow its businesses and expects further progress in the year ending 31 March 2016.

LNIDA have you met the man ?
 

While being a bit of a volatile character when the heat is taken out of the situation you will find him a great deal more resonable than you would think by reading these pages.

In my experience if you are in the right if you stand up to him he will respect you for it and not hold a grudge.

A and C
 

No not met the man.

But have heard enough stories from crew that been bawled out for running the APU & seem to recall an incident in MAN again bawling out sub contracted employee's that resulted in the Police been called.

But no doubt he is a very reasonable man when/if you can stand up to him

So to resurrect this old thread but any chance of NTR recruitment recruitment any time soon?

Next recruitment will be for Airbus I believe :}

If Jet 2 are going Airbus, given some clever timing, they can recruit all the Monarch pilots and Monarch can recruit all the Jet 2 bods.

Recruitment for NTR will most likely start in the autumn ready for the 2016 summer season I would say.

They're still looking for short-term contract guys with ratings via Zenon.

I read Jet2 had applied to wet lease an A330 late last year from Malaysia,
Air Asia X I guess.

@squarecrow - Correct, they were, but it got canned.

@B737900er - One of many rumours. Perhaps the 3rd weekend in June will yield some answers

@fa2fi - As Mr Good Cat says, most definitely autumn for recruitment to open again. The last 2 courses from this years recruitment are running just now.

Thanks for the updates.

Mini-Jumbo

An Airbus representative told me personally its a go, but then again if Boeing pull through it might get canned.

Jet2 Autumn 2014
 

How many are jet2 likely order?!

I see PPJN is reporting details of the Airbus order and the BBC are carrying a story of Edinburgh expansion for summer 2016.

Does anybody know where the 'buses are going? Is non-TR recruitment likely to any fleet?

Pretty much my career dream now. I love my TP job, but not enough for another 30+ years of it and given the choice I'm approaching the stage of selling my granny for the Jet2 gig! (Me and almost every other TP pilot who doesn't want to move south, I know...)

There is no order.

Looks like NTR recruitment is included in their latest recruitment drive. Anyone know if your are bonded or is it a SSTR? Anyone know how their NCL or LBA bases are fairing these days?

Traditional Bond
 

If you have sufficient experience then traditional bond for B737.

Not the highest payers in the industry but not the worst and they seem to appreciate folk with good grounding in flying like ex-mil and TP operators unlike competitors with their woefully paid subcontracted out cadet schemes.

Thanks for the reply. I have looked at PPJN and if the figures are correct then I could quite happily live with it. It's less than what I earn now but if I get a home base I'll be quids in anyway as I'll be saving £600-£700 a month is commuting and accommodation.

Update to say PPJN now show it to be a three year bond.

Jet2 Autumn 2014
 

Don't forget to factor in the half pay during training and the likelihood that you will be stuck on a 70% contract for your first year/s and any "best endeavours" to put you on a 100% contract are pretty meaningless

Actually the likelihood is a 100% contract these days.

But, hey, never let the facts get in the way of your bias.

Nonsense.
 

Actually, I think you are displaying significant bias Lord Spandex Masher.

As someone who expressed an interest in jet2.com, I attended selection in late 2013. I passed day 1 as a NTR DEC. They asked me if I would be interested in 757, I said yes. Then what happened was a ridiculous dance around being able to organise a sim slot. Then it all went dead. I withdrew my interest.

I decided to consider it again in late 2014. I was asked to come back and do all those tests again - and it was pointed out that I would be a NCL recruit on a 70% contract. I declined to attend.

An experienced, current UK based captain. 70% and a family move?

Dream on.

Beware the Reverend Meeson Coolaid Drinkers on here! Totally deluded!

Plan on 3-4 months on 50% salary, maybe more with the folk leaving. Over 100 pilots leaving in 8 months is not down to basing, that's "internal spin "Take Me There" utter rubbish - ask more questions and try to find a few opinions of working for this company.

With regards its financial state, the turnover is a massive amount of money through the company, the profit compared to it, is embarrassingly small! The bank balance reserves is only £200m, forward holiday bookings and ABTA insurance! No great cash reserves!

The business model got them started over 10 years ago, cargo-thinking - old aircraft, minimum hours! It's now completely trapped in a corner with no money for new airframes and still a seasonal flying program! Ask most of the non-Coolaid drinkers with a background of good employers, most if not all, will confirm it simply can't continue! I would suggest will probably be sold at some point, it's far too temporary with little infrastructure!

Think carefully, to be at home is great - to work for Jet2 is not! It's the worst of everything you will ever encounter in the UK aviation market...over 100 pilots have left.....!!!!!

Good luck!

Good post Sean,

To me it seems that there is no prospect of the company generating enough profit to perform a re-fleet with new airframes. The seasonality is the biggest brake on the company being able to move forward and the eventual rise in crude oil prices will hammer it's summer profitability given the fleet age.

Short term there is no reason why it won't remain a modestly profitable airline but If I were an investor, I would have questions over how it is going to ensure it will still be trading in 15 years time.

SR

Strange. As an experienced, current UK based captain I was offered and given a 100% contract - as was everyone else on my course.

This year the majority of new starters are on a 100% contract. That's a fact not a delusion or bias by the way.

Perhaps the selection process works huh?

I think that's also called desperation! With its present business model, I'm sure they would have offered 70% if they could get people - which they no longer can!

There is a "Brick-Wall" approaching!

Sean Dillon - is that the brick wall BA have also hit??? They are struggling with numbers as well?

I grant you some good people are currently leaving, but we are also managing to get rid of a fair few of the whingers and whiners to BA!!

As an aside actually look at the Dart Group accounts, look at the net cash position statement, that reflects around 10% margin. A target Willie Walsh has set for IAG. The 'profit' figure may be nearer the 4% mark, but the one that counts and keeps the doors open is the net cash position.

And no, I don't drink coolaid.

I think it's called business.

Strangely you appear to be unhappy that most people are getting 100% contracts now whilst you've previosuly derided the company's employment practices.

How's the M25 and your commute?

Lord Spandex Masher I appreciate being in a lower management role within Jet2 you have to tell the company line. Hence why your views might slightly differ from us, the normal line pilots.

For all the new guys joining us, after a few years when the shine wears off, when your realise a 6on2off roster doesn't work for your private life, when flying maximum hours in the summer and you have to arrange last minute childcare because of the 10th last minute roster change within the week, when you get another empty promise from the mint and you have been grounded again for something which wouldn't even justify an ASR in any other airline. That is when you appreciate why so many pilots are leaving.

It's nice to hear you are enjoying Jet2 and for sure your view is shared by all the new joiners. We do have great people indeed to work with on a day to day basis. However somebody in your position must understand with so many people leaving, as Sean Dillon says, something must be fundamentally wrong.

Narrow Runway; Reading the latest PLOG (pilots newsletter) from the 73 new pilots recruited a fair amount got offered 70% contracts this year.

Jet2 Autumn 2014
 

Wow how time flies - is it already time for another silly season of... Apply, hear nothing for months, receive a cryptic email around November to tell you how lucky you are to still be in the running before the glorious Feb PFO!

Nah, I'll give it a miss this year thanks

A 70% contract is 100% summer and then get lost for a few months in the winter paid 70% of a full time salary all year round (except for during training when it's 50% of 70%). For those very few that do it, commuting is a struggle on any fleet.

Yep, 61 permanent contracts out of 73 new pilots. That's about 84%. Some of can actually read and comprehend.

The rest of your post is similarly inaccurate.

I'm sure you're more than capable of working it out for yourself even though I missed out an 'us'?

The rest is just simple mathematics. Do you need me to explain that for you as well?

This mob remind me of Orion, the hybrid charter tour operator come scheduled carrier from the 80's.

After a steady period of growth and modest success they reached critical mass. Wild fire rumours of bigger better aircraft, a couple of big airbus pitched up. Within two years they were taken over by Brittania.

Children children....My train set is better than your train set!! My trains are better than your trains!! I can play with my trains more often you you can!! Ner ner ner ner ner. Choose the train set you want to go and play with and go and play with it! If it wasn't as good as the picture on the box then go play with another. Simple.

Exactly, this airline would suit me for many reasons. I could live where I want to be based and have a skill from a previous career I could use if I was not flying through the winter.

As for rosters etc. you should see what I work now in a non flying job.

I will be applying.