South African Airways (SAA) has announced the cancellation of flights to Perth and Sao Paulo after the SAA Pilots Association confirmed plans to strike, following a deadlock in ongoing salary negotiations. The airline made the decision to suspend the two routes on Wednesday evening, after being informed that the strike would proceed as scheduled, according to Khaya Buthelezi, SAA’s senior manager of corporate relations.
Buthelezi explained that the airline was unable to secure alternative carriers to accommodate affected passengers, which led to the suspension of flights on the Perth and Sao Paulo routes. Despite the cancellations, SAA confirmed that domestic flights and services to other African destinations remained unaffected, thanks to contingency plans that had already been put in place.
At OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, pilots were observed picketing outside SAA offices as part of their protest against the unresolved pay dispute.
The SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) has not yet commented publicly on the situation. Initially, SAAPA had demanded a 30% salary increase, but later revised the request to 15.7%, including associated benefits. In response, SAA stated that fulfilling the 15.7% demand could lead to the airline’s financial collapse. Interim CEO John Lamola warned that meeting the union’s revised demand would push the company towards bankruptcy.
In response to the strike threat, South African Airways has offered an 8.46% pay increase, retroactive to April. The airline had narrowly avoided liquidation in 2019, when it entered bankruptcy protection. The latest dispute underscores the ongoing financial challenges faced by the national carrier as it navigates its post-crisis recovery.