I'm just reading from the contract. It states that the 1000hrs/2yrs service can be reduced as necessary to fill a vacancy. So, basically, if they need to drop it, it's effectively dropped. I read it as a fancy way of saying "we'd like the captains to have this much experience". If the senior FO's aren't going for the Saab CA slots (I'd guess they're waiting for jet slots a few to several months away), then the junior FO's are going to get them, provided they have the ATP minimums.

If the company would prefer more experienced Saab Captains, the only way they're going to get it is to lift the Saab Captain seat lock. That way, the senior FO's could sit in the Saab Capt seats until the Jet Capt seats open up. Meanwhile the new hire guys will at least get to see a winter, and maybe another summer from the right seat. Then, as jet slots open up, the new hire guys, who would then be more experienced, can step up to the Saab Captain slots.

However, I don't think our corporate leadership even knows about these subtleties, much less cares about them. They will take every nickel they can save, and pay themselves bigger bonuses. That's just simply what they do and where they place their priorities.

It's entirely possible that some new hires could end up as jet captains, while more senior Saab guys squirm in their seat locks. Company experience isn't a consideration. What we'll end up with is junior Saab Captains, and then eventually even more junior Jet Captains. I'm not at all dissing the new hires. I'm just mulling this situation over.