South African Airways announced that it had cancelled flights to Sao Paulo and Perth after the SAA Pilots Association confirmed that they would go on strike after pay negotiations came to a standstill.
After learning that the strike schedule would proceed, the airline decided to cancel the Perth and Sao Paulo routes, Khaya Buthelezi, senior manager of corporate relations for the airline, told Reuters.
“That’s the decision we took last night since we could not find partner airlines that we can transfer our customers to, it became clear that those two routes must be cancelled,” he said, as reported by Zawya.
Buthelezi further said that because the airline had prepared backup plans, there were no disruptions to domestic flights or routes throughout Africa early.
Buthelezi reported seeing some pilots picketing outside the SAA office at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport.
However, South African Airways managed to ensure the suspension of the pilots’ strike that commenced on December 7 early morning, by effecting an agreement post the “productive discussions” between SAA’s Executive Management and the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA).
As part of the resolution, management has agreed to a further 1% salary increase, bringing the total salary increase for SAA pilots to 9.47%.
Speaking to public news broadcaster SABC, SAA pilot Sibusiso Nxumalo, speaking on behalf of the National Transport Movement Pilots Forum and the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA), stated that their demands went beyond money and focused on improved working conditions and employment conditions.
“The company has made a profit in the past couple of months. It’s not like we want a piece of that pie, we just want to have better working conditions,” Nxumalo said.
In a statement released by SAA, it was noted that the initial demand made by SAAPA in May 2024 for a 30% increase in pilot salaries was later reduced to 15%, along with related benefits.
According to a statement from SAA’s acting CEO, John Lamola, the company’s decline into bankruptcy would be triggered by the demand for a 15% pay increase.
An 8%–46% pay raise retroactive to April has been offered by the airline. Before the national carrier filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019, it was about to be liquidated.
Meanwhile, the first net profit reported by South African Airways in more than ten years marks a significant turning point in the airline’s recovery.