The South African Airways, SAA has taken a decision to operate FlySafair flights amid an ongoing pilot strike led by majority union, Solidarity.
The strike that started on Monday due to salary dispute is expected to continue today affecting operations as over 26 flights were grounded since Monday.
Pilots affiliated to the Solidarity union are demanding a 10.5% salary hike, while FlySafair is offering 5.7%.
Pilot and Aviation expert Phuthego Mojapele, who was speaking on YOU FM Newshour, said the strike that left many passengers stranded and frustrated could have been avoided and saved the low-cost carrier money.
“The basic thing that these pilots are asking for is the 10% that was docked from the pilot’s salaries during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, in retrospect that the money will be reinstated once the aviation economy improves.
Now FlySafair has been enjoying the benefits, while growing substantially introducing more new routes flying seven days a week instead of three-days,
It has taken over the routes between Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga and Cape Town which are fully booked every time there’s a flight.
Now there’s money why not pay the pilots,” said Mojapele.
He commended the SAA GCEO Professor John Lamola’s decision to agree to operate the routes on behalf of FlySafair.
“In this case I agree with the decision taken by Prof Lamola and how the agreement was reached because it means more money for SAA.
FlySafair will pay for aircrafts operational costs in full just like when the defence department or air force rent the aircrafts from the SAA, the premium price that they pay to SAA to operate that flight will be paid by Flysafair until Sunday as per this agreement,” explained Mojapele.
He cautioned that the deal is not profitable for FlySafair.
“Much as we know that SAA is not operating the route between Durban and Cape Town, what they have agreed to do is that FlySafair has leased the plains from SAA to operate the route for them and this comes at a cost.
SAA is not doing it for free, it’s in fact a lucrative business transaction for SAA,” remarked Mojapele.
Meanwhile, FlySafair came under fire earlier this year after questions about its ownership structure and control were raised leading to a sanction by the Domestic and International Air Licensing Councils.
Mojapele said the airline was compliant when it was awarded or granted an operating license by the Air Services Licensing Council (ASLC).
“Over the years, they have been diluting their shareholder position, selling them off to other companies that wanted the stake of the company, and when you register and sell the shares the regulations remain.
There’s been other companies like Airlink as well as Global that own LIFT which have raised compelling complaints before the Council against FlySafair and sanctions are looming against them,” warned Mojapele.
Both the union Solidarity and FlySafair have agreed to CCMA mediation talks.
