South African Airways (SAA) cancelled flights to Perth and São Paulo on Thursday following a decision by the airline’s pilots to strike over unresolved pay negotiations.
Khaya Buthelezi, SAA’s senior manager for corporate relations, confirmed that the airline opted to cancel the two international routes on Wednesday evening after receiving confirmation that the strike would proceed.
“We couldn’t secure partner airlines to accommodate affected customers, so it became clear these routes had to be cancelled,” said Buthelezi.
Domestic and African regional flights remained unaffected as contingency measures were in place, he added. However, pilots were seen picketing outside SAA’s headquarters at OR Tambo International Airport.
Speaking to SABC, SAA pilot Sibusiso Nxumalo, representing the SAA Pilots Association (SAAPA) and the National Transport Movement Pilots Forum, said their demands went beyond pay increases, focusing on improved working conditions.
“The company has been profitable in recent months. We’re not asking for a share of the profits, just better working conditions,” Nxumalo stated.
SAAPA initially demanded a 30% salary increase in May, later lowering the request to 15.7%, which includes additional benefits. SAA, however, has offered an 8.46% raise backdated to April, arguing that meeting the pilots’ demands would push the airline toward bankruptcy.
Interim CEO John Lamola emphasized that the 15.7% increase would be unsustainable for the national carrier, which narrowly avoided liquidation in 2019 and has since been navigating financial recovery.