As FlySafair pilots embark on a nationwide strike today, July 21, commuters may want to check their flight schedules to ensure smooth travels. A salary dispute is cited as the cause of the strike.
In a statement today, FlySafair confirmed that a “quantity of flights” had to be cancelled while operations continue as scheduled.
“These flights were assigned to pilots who had confirmed their availability to fly, but who late last night, reported that they would not fly,” the statement read.
“All other flights are operating as planned, and affected customers have been contacted directly using details provided at the time of booking. Should there be further disruptions, customers will be notified promptly.”
According to FlySafair, the demand for a salary increase of more than 20% is “steep” and unsustainable.
“FlySafair pilots are among the best-compensated professionals in the country. Our Captains earn, between R1.8 and R2.3 million annually—placing them well within the top 1% of earners in South Africa,” the statement continued.
“In terms of workload, FlySafair Captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers. This is well within regulatory limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, and ICAO, which cap flight duty at 100 hours per month.”
The company is however only offering a 5.7% increase on base pay.
Meanwhile, according to trade union Solidarity pilots feel exhausted, ignored and unappreciated.
In a statement Helgard Cronjé, deputy general secretary at Solidarity, said there is a growing sense of neglect and burnout among pilots, as well as a crumbling relationship between crew and management.
“Working conditions have deteriorated, with flight schedules leading to serious exhaustion for our members. Pilots have warned that the current situation is not sustainable,” said Cronjé.
“The breach of trust between crew and management has reached a critical point where the future of many pilots at FlySafair is uncertain.”
