US-based Intntl carrier:
Our mins were 4000TT / 1000 PICJet. Within only a few months they dropped to 2500TT / 1000 Turbine Total.
We did NOT drop the mins because there were an excess number of candidates!
And, we are going to need to hire even more due to the Flight/Duty/Rest rules coming before 1 Aug. The Regionals will be VERY hard hit to hire enough guys and have them trained by 1 Aug. I am 99% sure there will be LOTS of cancellations at the Regional level because of a lack of aircrews caused by the Regionals not hiring enough guys for the Rest/Duty/Flight changes with enough lead time to get the needed bodies online.
I also would not be surprised if some of the regionals will not be capable of getting enough bodies to fly the volume that they are tasked by their major code-share partner, at all. As a result, some of their flying will have to be shifted to the mainline carrier permanently, as it will be easier for them to get the pilots needed to cover the flying. It can only help!
cliff
AMS