FlySafair strike worsens with more flight cancellations expected

Stephen Grootes speaks to aviation expert Guy Leitch, about the FlySafair strike, which has led to mass flight cancellations and growing travel disruptions.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

8% of FlySafair's Monday flight schedule had to be cancelled due to a pilot's strike.

Trade Union Solidarity is calling for a 10.5% salary increase for pilots, while the airline is offering 5.7%.

About 200 of Flysafair's 300 pilots have joined in on the strike action.

But the strike looks likely to drag on for the a while.

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 travel disruptions 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.

"I suspect they've already made a decision as to how much they're prepared to spend on this strike, as it were. How much it's going to cost them....they've already indicated they're prepared to play it out..."

- Guy Leitch, aviation expert

"South African salaries have significantly been falling behind the world average. The reality too is, internationally there's a massive, worldwide pilot shortage, so the far-eastern countries, particular the China airlines are offering as much a four times..."

- Guy Leitch, aviation expert

"It's an ongoing problem. Flysafair is losing at least probably 5-10% of its workforce every year, not just to retirement but obviously to international poaching."

- Guy Leitch, aviation expert

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.