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Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
FlySafair strike worsens with more flight cancellations expected
The union issued a one-day strike notice for Monday, but FlySafair hit back with its own notice to lock out striking pilots for two weeks. The dispute is centred around a wage increase, but also working conditions and hours. The strike caused major disruptions across and delays across South Africa on Monday, with many people expecting to travel home at the conclusion of the winter school holidays. Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, aviation expert Guy Leitch believes it's likely to be a protracted strike action.
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
From negotiations to strike to lockout — inside the pilot revolt at FlySafair
Behind FlySafair's industry accolades and near-perfect on-time record, more than 200 pilots have launched a two-week strike, citing failed wage talks, exhaustion and family strain. As the lockout escalates and contingency rosters stretch thin, South Africa's best-loved low-cost carrier faces a test of leadership and legitimacy. Consistently rated Africa's best low-cost carrier, FlySafair faces a two-week pilot strike that has exposed structural fatigue, fractured labour relations and serious questions around how South Africa's most punctual airline balances growth, trust and governance. At the heart of the dispute: more than 200 pilots – more than two-thirds of FlySafair's crew – who, according to the trade union Solidarity, will down tools on 21 July after wage talks collapsed and a controversial management lockout triggered escalation. The numbers behind the revolt The wage dispute follows months of negotiation breakdowns. Solidarity rejected FlySafair's 5.7% offer, demanding a 10.5% increase for 2025/26, with CPI-linked increases for the following two years. Pilots point to schedule changes that have reduced rest periods and eroded family life. They say they're exhausted, underpaid and pushed beyond reasonable limits. FlySafair denies that rest or safety are in question. 'Fatigue is not a concern,' said Kirby Gordon, FlySafair's chief marketing officer, in written responses to Daily Maverick. Aviation analyst Guy Leitch told the SABC in an interview earlier on Sunday, 20 July, 'Pilots are complaining, quite simply, of being overworked and underpaid, particularly against their global peers.' 'There's a huge temptation for them to simply go and fly for another airline in another country, but that's not what they want to do.' Solidarity has framed the issue as not just economic, but ethical. Pilots want better pay, but they also want a return to what the union terms 'respect, fairness and transparency'. The union had not responded to questions from Daily Maverick by the time of publication. FlySafair disputes this framing. 'This negotiation has been ongoing for a protracted period and has very much followed the guardrails provided by the CCMA and Labour Relations Act, which have seen us walk a process that has delivered us to this point,' said Gordon. 'To reduce the offer to a percentage is reductionist, because pilot remuneration is a complex matter considering various payments and allowances depending on each pilot… The full offer is far more generous and the full counter demand far more onerous. 'It stands to reason that the company simply cannot abide this demand and has thus been forced to walk opposed to it [at] this advanced point in negotiations.' FlySafair's response to the strike was a lockout. Days before the strike began, the airline barred participating pilots from returning to work for a full seven days. Solidarity called the move 'a deliberately destabilising conflict'. Leitch was more blunt: 'The one-day strike became a seven-day lockout and then a 14-day stayaway… It's getting worse and worse.' He warned that the lockout had 'aggravated perceptions of management arrogance' at a time when tensions were already simmering. Still flying – but for how long? The airline insists operations remain unaffected. In a statement issued on Wednesday, 16 July , FlySafair said selected flights from 22-28 July were rescheduled 'as a precaution', and that affected passengers would be contacted directly and rebooked at no charge. But operational strain is real. Leitch estimates FlySafair is operating at around 75% of its normal schedule, with striking pilots replaced by non-unionised or management flight crews. That substitution model, he says, is sustainable for only about a week before fatigue and limits set in. 'The airline can probably operate around 75% of its normal schedule,' he said. 'But the remaining pilots can only absorb extra workloads for about seven days.' The airline has urged passengers to use the website or app to confirm their itineraries, noting that some flights may be delayed, combined or cancelled. Meanwhile, mediation efforts are under way – at least on paper. The CCMA has invited both parties to the table. Solidarity has confirmed its willingness to participate. FlySafair has yet to do so publicly. What this means for you For the broader public, the story unfolding at South Africa's most reliable airline mirrors wider tensions in labour relations, aviation sustainability and the consequences of running an ultra-lean operation. FlySafair's model isn't one of fiscal austerity, but of aggressive cost discipline – and that model, while profitable, is now under pressure from the very people tasked with keeping it in the air. The standoff has also taken a more personal turn. Solidarity claims the airline's CEO and CFO have sold off R90-million in shares during the dispute. FlySafair has not commented, but the optics have inflamed internal sentiment. 'It's never a good sign when senior management starts selling off shares,' Leitch said. 'There's a suspicion the airline has made really good money… supported by the massive increase in share price.' FlySafair's public image has long been one of efficiency, affordability and technical reliability. It's a multiyear Skytrax winner with a 95.1% on-time performance rate. But its internal tensions now risk eroding the very trust on which that reputation is built. 'The airline will undoubtedly be damaged, not just financially, but in terms of labour relations,' Leitch warned. 'It'll break the natural level of good faith and trust between the pilots and management.' Industry implications This dispute isn't just about FlySafair. It's a warning bell for the wider aviation sector. Low-cost carriers globally have struggled with similar tensions. 'Low-cost carriers like Ryanair and EasyJet also face continuous low-key warfare with pilots,' said Leitch. 'It's not unique, but full-scale strikes are rare.' If not resolved soon, the dispute could spill over. Cabin crew are reportedly watching developments closely. Pilot shortages and international recruitment pressures mean experienced crew may not stick around if trust is lost. DM
