Pilot strike is the LAST thing SAA wants right now - Dr Guy Leitch (SA Flyer Magazine)

John Perlman speaks with Dr Guy Leitch, Publisher and Editor at SA Flyer Magazine.

Listen below.

South African Airways (SAA) is facing a pilot strike later this week.

The airline received notice that pilots intend to down tools from Thursday, 5 December 2024.

ALSO READ:

• SAA is ‘growing rapidly’ after years of struggles
• SAA pilots set to strike on Thursday over wage negotiations

The SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) is demanding a 15.7% increase in pilot salaries and associated benefits.

The entity offered increases of 8.46%.

Leitch says this strike has been brewing since SAA started flying again after being placed under business rescue.

When the airline restarted, the pilots took a pay cut of 50%, and their working conditions got significantly worse, he adds.

“Suddenly the amount of flying required went up by another 30% to 50%.”

- Guy Leitch, Publisher and Editor at SA Flyer Magazine 

SAA has recently started reporting profits again after years, which Leitch says has triggered this response from pilots.

However, he says the airline is still under enormous financial pressure.

“The last thing it [SAA] wants is a disruption of the start of the holiday season.”

- Guy Leitch, Publisher and Editor at SA Flyer Magazine 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.