If I was an American at the moment looking at legacy carriers I would be very nervous about this merger thing. Many people are pushing for it and it would appear that the voices quelling those possibilities in the past are being silenced. Good or bad I don't know, but it might just happen this time. And if they let one merger go ahead, then they'll likely let the other as well. I'm no rocket scientist and was never that good at math, but I don't think the end result will be a bunch more job's at the majors. Just my two cents on that one.

If it's jet's you're looking at overseas at the moment you will likely have to buy a rating though. For the HACS contract you'll need 1000 jet on top of the command type rating so that'll be down the road. Koreans numbers look doable but in reality they are getting pretty experienced people still. The commute is quite good from what I hear and the pay is sweet; thing's there it appears have changed. The two other choices might be Eva or China Airlines as the pay is lowsey and people are not happy (read, you can fill the shoes of the departing for greener pastures, namely KAL); but if they are paying for the rating. . .

Hong Kong Express was hiring with very little multi turbine time, but they just merged with Air Hong Kong and 14 guy's got laid off. However, I understand that the HKX side is still hiring as they are expanding, so 1000 or so (plus some reasonable total)in a two crew turbo prop might do it. I've just heard rumors about the Air Hong Kong side and it sounds very strange indeed, but my friends on the HKX side are still looking at 18 to 24 months to upgrade on the NG, the parent Hainan is still talking big expansion with A330's on the way, the domicile is Hong Kong (great city if you ask me) and they pay for the type rating. Many of their guy's are still jumping to Dragonair for the much better T&C's, plus it's Swire so to me it's like a free ride to a CX job without being an SO. Have you thought about that by the way?

I wouldn't go to Africa either, but if you're desperate for a jet job then go see the good people at Aeroservice in Miami, get a cheep rating on something like a B727, DC8, L1011, B747 classic or anything other of the museum pieces that I'd love to take a leave to fly, get yourself a recent copy of the JP fleet guide and a one way ticket to Lagos and have some lucky outfit put you in the drivers seat of the next departing flight. HBA (Hewa Bora) might be a start.

Lot's of options with more opening up all the time. It's just not going to be G&T's on the beach and white cotton sheets for the first while.