Is it not true that the training center is completely maxed out through March due to various, mostly stupid, avoidable mistakes? And, perhaps, this pause in hiring is due only to that?
Is it possible that if the new team is only just marginally competent they are still unwinding YEARS of unfathomable stupidity, arrogance, greed, narcissism and utter incompetence? Think F/A integration to name only one.
We need to be hiring. We will at some point; so relax everyone. Many of us have seen true stagnation before and this is just a tap of the brake.

Cheers.