More flights cancelled as FlySafair strike leaves passengers stranded
According to The Witness, Itumeleng Morole was left stranded at King Shaka International Airport yesterday after her evening flight was cancelled due to the ongoing pilots' strike over a wage dispute.
Morole said her attempts to resolve the matter failed when she was told to pay an extra R500 to have her name added to the standby flight list.
She said she was informed it was either that or she would need to arrange alternate transport to her destination.
'To be made to pay an extra R500 for a standby flight that might not even be there was the last straw. Another alternative for them was another flight today, but there was no provision for accommodation for the night.
'When I realised it was around 16:00 and there was no hope that I would be assisted, I called a friend who provided me with accommodation for the night,' said Morole.
'I booked myself a bus and this morning I boarded. Better this than to go back to the chaos at FlySafair counters.'
The low-cost airline's strike entered its second day today, with 26 flights cancelled – accounting for 13% of its operations.
More than 200 pilots have joined the strike, rejecting the airline's 5.7% wage increase offer and holding firm on their demand for a 10.5% hike.
The company said that due to the intensifying strike, more flights are expected to be cancelled.
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