Originally Posted by
HKFlyr
My thoughts...
Hong Kong BLGs at all time low, as we lost India flying to 777 and belly freight. Right now about 65 hour average with over half the lines VTO and reserve. Company doesn't like low BLGs in the FDAs as it isn't cost effective. Predict if BLGs don't go up soon in HKG that many FOs will use their 3 years and out option. Better than excess in some ways. They pick where they go based on seniority with no bid required. Maybe excess 5 to 10 each seat. It also could help end the Passover pay issue possibly.
BLGs down fleet wide due to people not being in the right seats. Excess will realign that.
We had a lot of people not working too hard due to being fat in many seats after the earlier than planned 727 shutdown. Many retired, however, lots more here still.
There will be an excess in a few seats and several domiciles and they will fill those empty 757 seats.
I think no hiring till next year.
It would be nice if the company would openly communicate on this issue. But, that would be just...
A friend somewhat in the know says BLGs are low do to the company spreading the flying out between fleets more (bigger planes on smaller aircraft routes in cases) to keep the BLGs low. Less reserves required therefore keeping BLGs low intentionally by putting more guys on trips from the get go. Keeps us thinking the skies falling...
He says it's unsustainable for peak do to the extra pairings that pop up, and the requirement for more lift on the longer routes. So he predicts hiring about 80 this year.
Additionally he says, the B727 excess is about to be fully trained out so the main reason we stopped hiring was to finish that process.