when a route doesn't come back as a roundtrip , like you fly LHR > HKG but not the return . how does that usually get handled on your end? do you deadhead back, get reassigned regionally or wait out a layover cycle?
Usually when a route changes aircraft, there is a requirement to "position" some pilots out a few days before as passengers to bring the aircraft home when it lands there for the first time. Logistically, very complex!