Latest news with #ORTamboInternationalAirport
IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair strike highlights pay gap between SA and global pilots
This is how the salaries of South African pilots compare to global pilots. While FlySafair insists its pilots are among the best-paid in the country, international comparisons reveal that even top local salaries remain far below global benchmarks. The South African aviation industry is facing major trouble as FlySafair pilots down tools over a pay dispute. While FlySafair insists its pilot pay is competitive locally, global comparisons suggests otherwise. We crunch the numbers to compare the salaries. Background 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, facing a planned two-week stay-away by pilots, says the disruption is deeply regrettable but largely out of its control. '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.' However, Solidarity's deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje, refutes the notion that this is a full-scale strike, instead blaming FlySafair's own lockout of around 200 pilots for the escalating crisis. As seen above, despite the high salaries claimed by FlySafair, South African pilots still earn less than half, or even a third, of what their global peers take home. Meanwhile, domestic travellers are left scrambling. IOL
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair strike: Top alternative airlines for South African travellers facing flight cancellations
We look into alternative airlines for South Africans to use. 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?
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair pilots' strike ground flights, sparking social media outrage
The ''tools down'' protest by FlySafair pilots has plunged operations into chaos, grounding flights and sparking a storm of outrage across social media. The chaos was triggered by failed wage talks, leading pilots to stage a tools-down protest that left scores of travellers stuck at airports nationwide. In a statement, FlySafair said that while most of their services remained on schedule, several flights were cancelled due to pilots who had initially agreed to work but later informed the airline, at the last minute, that they would no longer be flying. 'FlySafair confirms that operations continue largely as scheduled today, but unfortunately, a quantity of flights have had to be cancelled today. ''These flights were assigned to pilots who had confirmed their availability to fly, but who, late last night, reported that they would not fly. ''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. 'We thank our teams both on the aircraft and on the ground for their tireless commitment and hard work to ensure that disruptions are minimised as far as possible.' Social media erupted with backlash as frustrated users voiced their anger over the sudden cancellations. One user argued that companies thrive by rewarding employees with a share of profits instead of relying on unions, encouraging a culture of 'perform or exit.' FlySafair apologised for the disruption experienced by their customers and the wider public, assuring that they are working to resolve the situation swiftly. 'We deeply regret the impact this situation is having on our loyal customers and the broader flying public. Our goal remains to reach a reasonable resolution quickly, restore trust, and continue building the airline so many South Africans rely on.' Meanwhile, IOL reported that FlySafair said its hands were tied, after the company received last-minute updates from certain pilots informing the carrier that they would not make it to work on Monday morning, forcing the cancellation of at least 26 flights. In an interview with IOL at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer for FlySafair, said the interruption of flights is regrettable and has left some passengers stranded. "What we are experiencing at the moment is that we have an industrial action on the part of our pilots; they have embarked on a stay-away strike which started today. They have deemed it to happen for two weeks. "Unfortunately, we had a number of commitments from a number of pilots to be able to cover our schedule today. Late last night, we received information from several of them that they would be unable to fulfil their duties. ''As a result, we have had to cancel 26 of 174 flights today. So there have been cancellations and we apologise very deeply to our customers who have been stranded. Unfortunately, our hands are tied in this regard, because of the industrial action that is going on," he said. As an intervention, Gordon told IOL that Flysafair teams were assisting customers, and in some instances giving refunds. He said the negotiations with Solidarity are still ongoing. "We continue to approach them (the negotiations) with good faith. At this stage, we are still quite far apart. Unfortunately, the unions' demands are very high. They have been speaking about a demand of a 10 percent increase in salaries," said Gordon. "When one considers the full cost-to-company, that's more than 20.1 percent, which at the back of R1.8 to R2 million salary, which puts pilots within the top one percent of earners in this country, you can understand that it is just an untenable position. Earlier, IOL reported about the long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with industrial action. In an interview with IOL at OR Tambo International Airport, Solidarity's deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje, said operations have been impacted by the labour impasse between FlySafair and the union, which Solidarity said has resulted in workers being blocked from working. Solidarity is the union representing FlySafair's pilots. Cronje told IOL that on Thursday, Solidarity gave FlySafair notice for a one-day strike, basically to get them back to the negotiation table. One student who opted not to be identified said he was scheduled to travel to Cape Town, but his flight has been cancelled. He has been put on standby for a flight on Tuesday. 'I have been told that there is no flight today and I must come tomorrow (Tuesday). I am not guaranteed a flight; they said I am on standby. I was told to return to the OR Tambo International Airport at 6 am. This has been frustrating,' he said. Additional Reporting by Jonisayi Maromo
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
FlySafair confirms cancellation of 26 flights and apologises 'deeply' to affected passengers
Domestic airline FlySafair said it cancelled 26 of 174 scheduled flights on Monday, and apologised for the inconvenience to customers. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL Domestic airline FlySafair says its hands are tied, after the company received last-minute updates from certain pilots informing the carrier that they would not make it to work on Monday morning, forcing the cancellation of at least 26 flights. In an interview with IOL at the OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer for FlySafair, said the interruption of flights is regrettable and has left some passengers stranded. 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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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "What we are experiencing at the moment is that we have an industrial action on the part of our pilots, they have embarked on a stay-away strike which started today. They have deemed it to happen for two weeks. "Unfortunately, we had a number of commitments from a number of pilots to be able to cover our schedule today. Late last night, we received information from several of them, that they would be unable to fulfil their duties. As a result, we have had to cancel 26 of 174 flights today. So there has been cancellations which we apologise very deeply to our customers who have been stranded. Unfortunately, our hands are tied in this regard, because of the industrial action that is going on," he said. 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 an intervention, Gordon told IOL that Flysafair teams were assisting customers, and in some instances giving refunds. "Our teams are here and available to assist as much as they possibly can. We have booked passengers on other flights in the future, and with public carriers, where we have that available. Where that is not an option, we are issuing immediate refunds as quickly as we can," said Gordon. He said the negotiations with Solidarity are still ongoing. "We continue to approach them (the negotiations) with good faith. At this stage, we are still quite far apart. Unfortunately, the unions' demands are very high. They have been speaking about a demand of a 10 percent increase in salaries," said Gordon. "Actually, when one considers the full cost-to-company, that's more than 20.1 percent, which at the back of R1.8 to R2 million salary, which puts pilots within the top one percent of earners in this country, you can understand that it is just an untenable position. Earlier, IOL reported about the long queues formed at the FlySafair counters on Monday morning as the airline grappled with industrial action. In an interview with IOL at OR Tambo International Airport, Solidarity's deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje, said operations have been impacted by the labour impasse between FlySafair and the union, which Solidarity said has resulted in workers being blocked from working. Solidarity is the union representing FlySafair's pilots. 'Technically, it was not our industrial action, but it was the company's lockout. Be that as it may, what we have determined is that if our members are not there, there is definitely an operational impact on the company. 'Many flights were cancelled, many people were told to buy new tickets or to reschedule their flights. There is a definite operational impact if our members aren't at work. Technically, as I have said, it wasn't necessarily Solidarity's industrial action, because the company locked us out. They are locking us out at this stage.' Cronje told IOL that on Thursday, Solidarity gave FlySafair notice for a one-day strike, basically to get them back to the negotiation table. 'The CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration) immediately contacted us, and we responded to the CCMA and said we are willing to speak and go back to the negotiation table,' he said. Solidarity's deputy general-secretary, Helgard Cronje speaking to IOL Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL 'As of yesterday, we had not seen a response from Safair and I have not seen one this morning. In spite of the fact that we announced the strike, they did not respond. What they did is, on Friday, they gave a lockout notice of seven days, which means our members are not able to come and work, because they are not allowed to work by FlySafair.' One student who opted not to be identified said he was scheduled to travel to Cape Town, but his flight has been cancelled. He has been put on standby for a flight on Tuesday. 'I have been told that there is no flight today and I must come tomorrow (Tuesday). I am not guaranteed a flight, they said I am on standby. I was told to return to the OR Tambo International Airport at 6am. This has been frustrating,' he said. Business Report has recently reported that FlySafair is poised for significant flight disruptions in the next two weeks following the decision to lock out around 200 pilots for seven days on the back of industrial action starting on Monday. This drastic move comes on the heels of an overwhelming 90% of the airline's pilots voting in favour of a strike over a wage dispute, igniting a standoff that could see the aviation landscape of South Africa affected for up to two weeks. The turmoil began when Solidarity issued a notice of a one-day strike intended to bring the airline back to the negotiation table. IOL News
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Every single billboard on R21 to OR Tambo Airport is illegal, says Sanral
Billboard owners, emboldened by industry intimidation tactics and government inaction, are costing local and national authorities millions of rands in lost revenue. The outdoor advertising industry has gone rogue. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), backed by the City of Ekurhuleni, admitted that not a single billboard on the R21 freeway — stretching from Johannesburg to OR Tambo International Airport — has been lawfully installed. An investigation by Daily Maverick uncovered that billboard owners, emboldened by industry intimidation tactics and government inaction, are costing local and national authorities millions of rands in lost revenue. Worse yet, some are structurally unsound and could collapse, endangering motorists. They can also cause dangerous conditions by obstructing road signs. Outdoor advertisers are required to pay upfront fees — up to R400,000 — for leases at high-visibility spots, as well as 20% of their monthly earnings from the billboards to the local and national entities, a regulation that's largely ignored. There is a deliberate pattern of non-compliance — companies exploit loopholes to install boards on private property, knowing that enforcement is weak and legal battles are costly for authorities. Monitoring efforts have been largely abandoned by road and council officials, allowing illegal installations to multiply. Ekurhuleni councillor Jill Humphreys admitted the city had 'given up' on removing the illegal structures. 'The industry takes advantage of this. There is no money, no manpower. The industry knows we can't fight them and is taking advantage of that.' Sanral confirmed that every billboard on the R21, including those mounted on bridges, is illegal under the Sanral Act. Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela said it was difficult to track illegal billboards. 'It is influenced by many factors such as billboards not yet reported by routine road maintenance, those in the process of being illegally erected, those in the process of being removed, as well as those under consideration by the municipalities.' He said workers tasked with removing illegal billboards had been threatened. 'There have been threats made against officials by certain individuals and companies within the outdoor industry. These incidents have been reported and are currently under investigation by our legal department for further handling.' He said billboards on private land must be authorised. 'If not removed when requested, the owner can be asked to provide access to the property for removal, but should there be objections, a court interdict may be needed to enter the property.' Warnings The City of Ekurhuleni claims that the advertising industry has largely ignored calls to regularise billboards. This month, the city gave advertisers 21 days to register their billboards, ending on 4 August. The MMC for developmental planning and real estate, Nomadlozi Nkosi, placed 'illegal advertising' stickers on three billboards in Bedfordview, Alberton and Sunward Park, threatening the owners with fines, legal action and possible removal of the billboards at their own cost. The average cost to remove an 18 sq m billboard is between R100,000 and R150,000. If they are erected illegally on private property and the owner refuses access, court applications are needed to enter the property. Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the municipality only had three people to monitor for illegal billboards. Safety risk He said illegal billboards placed motorists at risk by blocking visibility and obscuring road signs 'They may also be structurally unsafe if not approved, increasing the risk of collapse, especially in extreme weather conditions,' he said. The billboards are uninsured and do not carry public liability or professional indemnity insurance. 'There have been incidents where bylaw enforcement officers were threatened or met with resistance when attempting to remove illegal advertising signs,' said Dlamini. 'In some cases, individuals claiming ownership of the signs have intervened aggressively to prevent removal. 'These incidents have been reported through the appropriate internal channels, and where necessary, law enforcement support has been requested to ensure the safety of officials and compliance with the city's bylaws.' The city estimates there are about 78 illegal billboards on the R21. 'The department is exploring means to vigorously deal with the insurgent illegal advertising across the city in terms of bylaw enforcement,' said Dlamini. The exact loss in revenue is unquantifiable, but Dlamini points out that legal applications to erect billboards cost R1,810, with an inspection charge of R250 per square metre, plus 20% of the monthly revenue generated by the billboard. 'None of this money reaches the city when structures are off our records. In addition to the direct revenue loss, illegal signs undermine regulated competition and place a financial burden on the city's enforcement resources,' he said. The city's outdoor advertising bylaw enforcement unit removed 873 illegal billboards from council-owned properties and road reserves during the 2023-2024 financial year. Industry's response Angelo Tandy, the chairperson of Out of Home Media South Africa (Ohmsa), a voluntary industry umbrella body, said: 'While isolated instances of non-compliance may occur in any industry, these do not reflect the values of the majority of our stakeholders. We also work tirelessly with government and the various municipalities to fix the challenges facing the industry in efforts to positively transform the outdoor industry.' Ohmsa does not possess regulatory enforcement powers, but it functions as a self-regulatory body by promoting adherence to municipal bylaws and national regulations. 'We offer guidance, training, and a code of conduct to our members, reinforcing governance and operational accountability,' said Tandy. Tandy dismissed accusations of 'mafia-style' organisations in Ekurhuleni that threaten officials who try to remove illegal billboards. 'We are not in possession of verified information regarding these allegations and cannot comment on speculation. We strongly condemn any form of intimidation or criminality and encourage municipal officials and stakeholders to report unlawful conduct to the appropriate authorities.' Tandy said the regularisation of boards with municipalities was an ongoing process. 'Our efforts include ongoing stakeholder engagement to encourage best practices, providing training and resources to our members, and actively supporting policies that promote fair competition and innovation. 'We advocate for an inclusive and transparent permitting process, prioritise SMME development, and support municipal enforcement efforts to dismantle non-compliant boards while expanding compliant access for new entrants. 'The regularisation of alleged illegal billboards is an ongoing issue in South Africa, especially in larger urban areas. However, Ohmsa encourages its members to work closely with local authorities to remain compliant and to help mitigate the challenges.' Neither Jinja Outdoor Advertising or Alliance Media, companies that own boards on the R21, responded to a request for comment. DM
