SAA pilot strike chaos – here are the affected routes

South African Airways pilots have started striking, with several local and international routes affected.

Yesterday, 4 December, SAA said that the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA) could strike following unsuccessful wage negotiations.

SAAPA had demanded a 30% pay increase, which was subsequently reduced to 15.7% (plus associated benefits).

SAA offered an 8.46% raise retroactive to April 2024.

“SAA’s final wage offer, made to SAAPA on 24 September 2024, is significantly higher than the general salary increases in South Africa in 2024, is benchmarked against international pilot salary adjustments, and is in line with what was granted to the rest of SAA staff members in June 2024,” said the airline.

Despite SAA’s management stating that it would do everything possible to avoid a strike by pilots, these efforts have failed.

According to Reuters, the Gauteng Tourism Authority, and Flight Centre, the following routes have been:

SAA Affected Flights and Travel Advisory

The strike will disrupt all SAA-operated flights along major domestic and regional routes. The affected routes include:

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Cape Town (CPT)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Durban (DUR)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Gqeberha (PLZ)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Windhoek (WDH)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Mauritius (MRU)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Sao Paulo (SAO)

• Johannesburg (JNB) to/from Perth (PER)

Flight Centre said that while the strike’s duration remains unclear, this development raises significant concerns about potential disruptions during the peak December travel season. 

It should be noted that the partner airline operations, including codeshare flights and Star Alliance partner services, will continue to operate as scheduled.

Other passengers have been advised to expect busier-than-usual airports as many passengers scramble to find alternative flights.

We don’t have the money

SAA previously said that its offer to the pilots reflects the airline’s commitment to the well-being of its employees within the context of the airline’s history, current turnaround programme, and future financial sustainability.

Interim CEO John Lamola says while SAA recently reported a modest profit, it can not by any means claim to be in a financially robust position.

SAA also no longer expect shareholder contributions or recapitalisation from the fiscus (bailouts)

“Ironically, the pilots have chosen to go on strike exactly on the fifth anniversary of the day SAA was placed in Business Rescue in 2019.  SAA cannot return to the lucrative benefits that SAA pilots have historically enjoyed. Acceding to SAAPA current demand for a 15.7% wage increase will trigger SAA’s decline into bankruptcy”, he says.

“SAA has only recently regained its operational viability after emerging from a business rescue in 2021. In order not to disrupt this momentum, we are committed to ongoing negotiations with SAAPA and to do everything possible to reach a fair settlement that is mutually beneficial to both the pilots and the company”.

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