Uncertainty at the FlySaFair Airlines continues as pilots are continuing the strike. Image: Image: News24.
(The Post News)– The ongoing pilots’ labor dispute at FlySafair continues to cause uncertainty for some travelers as they are operating at a reduced schedule.
A portion of pilots represented by Solidarity Union, which is said to be almost two-thirds of FlySaFair’s pilots, are on strike due to dissatisfaction with salary negotiations and working conditions. According to Solidarity deputy general secretary Herald Cronjé, FlySafair has been neglecting their members, and he revealed that the relationship between crew and management is in a state of disarray.
Cronjé said that working conditions have deteriorated, with flight schedules leading to serious exhaustion for their members, adding that matters concerning the unsustainability of the situation have been reported before. The union stated that their demands are not unreasonable and called for transparency, among other things, and the restoration of trust in FlySafair management.
The union asserted that many pilots’ futures at FlySafair are in jeopardy due to a significant breach of trust between members and management. Furthermore, the union criticized FlySafair’s clinical approach, saying that it is unfair and only obsessed with percentages, costs, and profits, more than anything else.
However, FlySafair has confirmed in a media statement released on 23 July that all scheduled flights will be operating as planned, despite the ongoing pilots’ labor dispute. The airline explained that using the contact information they provided when making their reservation, customers who were impacted by any time changes were informed via email and SMS well in advance.
FlySaFair said since Tuesday, 22 July, they have been operating 95.2% of their reduced schedule on time, celebrating it as an achievement that reflects their resilience and dedication during this period. “The majority of FlySafair’s pilots are actively at work demonstrating their continued commitment to maintaining the airline’s world-class standards,” FlySafair added.
FlySaFair said their focus remains on supporting their customers while restoring full operations and also said they are grateful to their team at work for keeping operations running under challenging circumstances. Moreover, FlySafair has encouraged its customers to regularly check their flight status via the “Manage My Booking” tool on flysafair.co.za or the FlySafair app and to consult the Travel Updates page for the latest information.
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