South African Airways (SAA) has resumed its regular flight operations following the resolution of a strike by over 100 pilots who were demanding a higher salary increase.
The disruption, which occurred on December 5, led to the cancellation of approximately 60 percent of the airline’s flights.
After intensive negotiations, an agreement was reached between the South African Airways Pilots Association and the airline’s management, resulting in the pilots agreeing to return to work.
Interim SAA chief executive John Lamola confirmed the breakthrough, stating that discussions on a continuous enterprise improvement programme would continue until February 2025.
“As part of the agreement that broke the deadlock in wage negotiations, engagements on a continuous enterprise improvement programme will continue over the next eight weeks,” Lamola said in a statement late Sunday.
The agreement between the pilots and SAA management includes a one percent salary increment, bringing the total increase to 9.47 percent.
This compromise comes after the union had initially sought a higher raise of 15.7 percent for its members.
In a bid to address the pilots’ concerns and improve productivity, Lamola highlighted the company’s commitment to implementing work-life concessions as part of the agreement.
The strike left thousands of SAA passengers stranded during the peak travel season.
The recent strike underscored the ongoing challenges faced by SAA, a state-owned carrier that has grappled with financial difficulties and operational issues in recent years.
The airline’s viability has been called into question amidst a backdrop of financial instability, mismanagement and fierce competition in the aviation industry.
JN/APA