South African Airways (SAA) has cancelled flights to Perth and Sao Paulo after the SAA Pilots Association confirmed plans to strike following a deadlock in pay talks. The airline made the decision on Wednesday night after failing to find alternative airlines to transfer passengers to.
The strike, which began on Thursday, has not disrupted domestic flights or routes across Africa, thanks to contingency plans put in place by the airline. However, some pilots were seen picketing outside the SAA office at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
The pilots are demanding better working conditions and a 15.7% pay increase, including associated benefits. SAA has offered an 8.46% pay increase backdated to April, but the pilots’ union claims that the airline’s profits justify their demands. The airline’s interim CEO, John Lamola, has warned that meeting the pilots’ demands would lead to bankruptcy.
