FlySafair strike: Top alternative airlines for South African travellers facing flight cancellations
On Monday morning, domestic carrier FlySafair was forced to cancel at least 26 flights after receiving last-minute notices from pilots that they would not report for duty.
The company said the disruption is regrettable but largely out of its control. This is pilots are planning a stay-away for up to two weeks.
'What we are experiencing is industrial action on the part of our pilots. Unfortunately, our hands are tied,' said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair, speaking from OR Tambo International Airport. 'We are issuing refunds and rebooking where we can, but negotiations remain tense.'
The airline claims pilots already earn between R1.8 million and R2.3 million per year, placing them 'within the top 1% of earners in the country.'
It is believed that FlySafair pilots down tools due to a pay dispute, sparking widespread flight cancellations and renewed debate around pilot remuneration.
This begs the question: What other airlines can South Africans use?
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IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
FlySafair denies avoiding CCMA mediation as pilots strike over pay
FlySafair on Tuesday said it was operating a reduced schedule,with only two flights cancelled: the 16:45 service from Cape Town to Lanseria and the 19:30 return flight from Lanseria to Cape Town. Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers FlySafair has refuted claims suggesting that it has refused to engage with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), asserting that it has actively participated in all required discussions throughout the process. This comes as FlySafair experienced operational disruptions on Monday as it was forced to cancel 26 flights following the lockout of around 200 pilots who have embarked on industrial action. The pilots are demanding a 10.5% baseline increase alongside adjustments to flight pay and bonuses for the next financial year, and then 4.5% and 4% respectively for the two years thereafter. They rejected the proposed 5.7% salary increase by FlySafair. Trade union Solidarity had accused FlySafair of refusing to accept the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to mediate the dispute in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act but resolving to lock out its pilots for seven days. However, the CCMA was roped in to mediate the dispute on Monday after FlySafair cancelled 13% of its scheduled flights. FlySafair on Tuesday said it remained committed to resolving this matter constructively and will be meeting with the CCMA on Wednesday. The airline said claims that it had refused to participate in the CCMA process were factually incorrect, adding that it has actively engaged with the CCMA throughout the process, as required by law to obtain a protected strike certificate, and continues to participate in CCMA-facilitated discussions in good faith. In a bid to reassure travellers amid ongoing industrial action involving a segment of its pilot workforce, FlySafair announced that all flights scheduled for Tuesday were departing as planned. The airline said it was operating a reduced schedule which was proactively implemented last week, with all customers affected by time changes notified via SMS and email using the contact details provided at the time of booking, well in advance of their departures. It said only two flights were cancelled: the 16:45 service from Cape Town to Lanseria and the 19:30 return flight from Lanseria to Cape Town. According to FlySafair, these passengers have been directly communicated with, and their preferences respected regarding rebooking and refunds. Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer at FlySafair, expressed empathy for affected customers. 'We know that travel disruptions can be incredibly stressful, especially when plans are made well in advance,' Gordon said. 'We're truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused and want to reassure our customers that we are doing everything in our power to restore full operations as quickly as possible. Our teams are working around the clock to support affected customers, and we remain fully committed to finding a fair and sustainable resolution.' Meanwhile, Solidarity on Tuesday said the improvement in their quality of life was the main issue for pilots when the mediation process begins on Wednesday. Solidarity said while the pilots were also seeking a reasonable salary increase – including to restore their compensation to pre-COVID-19 levels – improved working conditions were particularly important. However, it is the shift in working conditions that has taken centre stage, particularly following the unilateral implementation of a new rostering system by FlySafair. Solidarity said this change has disrupted established protocols that have governed the pilots' schedules for the past decade, causing a ripple effect on their work-life balance. The pilots have expressed concerns that the new scheduling system limits adequate rest periods. "This new schedule impedes adequate rest periods and undermines pilots' family life. As pilots' workdays often start before sunrise and last until late at night, sufficient rest is of utmost importance for the safety and wellbeing of pilots and passengers alike," the union said in a statement. "In addition, pilots work seven days a week on a rotating schedule, which significantly impacts their family life compared to those who work standard office hours. In the upcoming meeting under the auspices of the CCMA, it is therefore essential for FlySafair to demonstrate a willingness to ensure more flexibility in the scheduling system." Solidarity has encouraged FlySafair to show a commitment to flexible scheduling. Proposed solutions from the pilots include a guarantee of at least one weekend off within each five-week cycle to allow proper rest and family time, the ability to exchange shifts among colleagues to accommodate personal and family responsibilities, and compensation for any flights undertaken on their days off in subsequent schedule cycles. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
Why FlySafair pilots are striking: It's more than just money
Long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with a labour impasse that grounded some flights. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL As hundreds bemoan the FlySafair strike, Solidarity has released a statement expressing the real reason why pilots have downed their tools - and it's not just about the money. While pilots overseas can earn up to R3 million plus housing and extras, earlier reports indicate that FlySafair pilots requested a raise. FlySafair responded stating that their Captains earn between R1.8 and R2.3 million annually, which, according to them, places the pilots within the top 1% of earners in South Africa. With regards to workload woes, FlySafair noted that its Captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers. It added that this is "well within regulatory limits set by the Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, and ICAO", which cap flight duty at 100 hours per month. While there is no doubt that that is a lot of money, the big question is: What is the point of having a full bank account if you cannot see your loved ones and your quality of life is low? According to Solidarity's statement, the improvement in the pilots' quality of life is the main issue. This is set to be tackled when the mediation process between Solidarity and FlySafair's management takes place on Wednesday. The process was requested by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act. "While the pilots are also seeking a reasonable salary increase – including to restore their compensation to pre-COVID-19 levels – improved working conditions are particularly important. A new rostering system, recently implemented unilaterally by FlySafair, has drastically changed the established working conditions of pilots, which have been in place for the past decade. This new schedule impedes adequate rest periods and undermines pilots' family life," the union stated. "As pilots' workdays often start before sunrise and last until late at night, sufficient rest is of utmost importance for the safety and well-being of pilots and passengers alike. In addition, pilots work seven days a week on a rotating schedule, which significantly impacts their family life compared to those who work standard office hours." Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Next Stay Close ✕ The proposals to achieve a settlement include, but are not limited to: that pilots will have at least one weekend off within each five-week schedule cycle, as well as two consecutive days off to properly rest and spend quality time with their families; the opportunity for pilots to exchange shifts with colleagues in cases where family responsibilities necessitate such flexibility; that if they have to fly on their days off, they will be compensated for these days off within the next schedule cycle. Additional schedule proposals will also be submitted to FlySafair's management during the mediation. It's worth noting that Solidarity stated that if FlySafair complies with the above requests, it will be prepared to review the salary increase demand and all other related claims and be willing to compromise. This statement comes hours after FlySafair has confirmed that all flights on Tuesday's schedule are departing as planned and assured customers that disruptions have been minimal so far. IOL
Mail & Guardian
7 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
FlySafair strike could go up to two weeks
The strike by FlySafair pilots could last as long as two weeks. (Wikimedia commons) The strike by The strike kicked off on Monday and was only meant to last a day, but after 90% of pilots represented by Solidarity decided the join the action, the airline 'decided to escalate the dispute and indicated that they would lock out the pilots for a period of seven days', the union said in a statement. 'Disruptions could last up to two weeks and The airline hit back at what it called the union's 'aggressive stance', saying it had implemented the defensive lockout after receiving notice of a strike to reduce flight disruptions. 'When employees give strike notice, they can legally stop and start work in short bursts, which can cause repeated disruptions until a deal is reached,' Kirby Gordon, the chief marketing officer at FlySafair, told the Mail & Guardian . He said anyone wanting to return to work could do so, but would be added into the next roster cycle. The claim that 90% of pilots joined the strike was 'entirely untrue', Gordon said. 'There is no way we would have been able to operate 150 flights yesterday [Monday] with 10% of our crew, so we need to be careful of their conjecture. Solidarity only represents about two-thirds of pilots, so 30% were not participating in the strike from the start,' Gordon said. 'Of those that are union members, a significant portion have chosen not to participate in the strike. So while there are many pilots staying away at the moment, the majority are actually at work.' On Tuesday, the airline said all flights on its schedule were departing as planned, but two had been cancelled. It added that its reduced schedule, implemented as a contingency last week, was in effect. FlySafair has rejected Solidarity's demand for a 10.5% increase on base salaries, as well as additional flight pay and bonuses, saying the sum of all the demands would amount to more than a 20% increase in overall cost to the company — 'an unsustainable escalation for any company'. The airline said it could only offer a 5.7% increase on base pay, which is 1.5% above inflation. 'This already substantial offer was made including other benefits — including a flight pay based bonus — which brings the total increase to 11.29% on a cost to company basis,' FlySafair added. 'This offer was designed to balance the other 1700 employees of the airline and the sustainability and resilience of the company with the demands of the pilots.' The parties are due to meet at the The airline's captains earn R1.8 million to R2.3 million annually — placing them within the top 1% of earners in South Africa, The airline says captains spent an average of 63 hours last month in the cockpit flying passengers, 'well within regulatory limits set by the Solidarity disputes the 'open' roster system the airline implemented earlier this year, saying it interferes with the pilots' down time because it is less structured and expects them to be on stand-by. The union wants pilots to be guaranteed at least one three-day weekend off every five weeks, a minimum of two consecutive days off per roster cycle, and the ability to swop single off days with other pilots. The union also wants all rostered off days to count toward pilots' annual leave allocation, said Helgard Cronje , the general secretary of public industry at Solidarity. 'It does make the roster to a certain extent more fixed, but it's still an open roster in essence. We get that the operational flexibility is important for the long-term sustainability of the company, but essentially there should be a balance. It cannot be in total control of the company and there should be some protection measures for the pilots,' he said. The airline insists the system is in line with the global airline industry and has been implemented by all other airlines in the country and 'allows pilots to receive their full monthly rosters by the 20th of the preceding month, enabling personal planning and scheduling'. 'Attempts by Solidarity to alter or limit this system would strip away its key benefits, undermining FlySafair's ability to compete with other airlines and maintain cost-effective operations,' it said.
