Pilot strike threat forces flight rescheduling

Cape Town – FlySafair has reportedly announced changes to its flight schedule for the period between Tuesday, 22 July and Monday, 28 July 2025, in anticipation of possible strike action by its pilots.

According to BusinessTech, FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kirby Gordon, said the airline is proactively adjusting selected flights during this period as a precautionary measure.

He added that affected customers will be contacted directly using the details provided at the time of booking.

FlySafair said the move aims to minimise potential disruption should pilots affiliated with the Solidarity trade union proceed with their planned strike.

Talks between FlySafair and Solidarity broke down after three months of wage negotiations.

Solidarity, which represents roughly two-thirds of the airline’s pilots, over 200 individuals, rejected the airline’s final salary offer of a 5.7% increase, citing deeper issues beyond pay, IOL reported.

“The relationship is at an absolute low, the report quoted Solidarity deputy general secretary Helgard Cronjé as saying.

He said that the pilots are dissatisfied with new rostering systems and leave policies that have reportedly impacted their work-life balance.

The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) met with both parties on 17 July to finalise procedural rules for a protected strike.

Solidarity said that if no resolution is reached, it will issue a 72-hour notice, paving the way for pilots to legally strike as early as next week, reported TTW

“If FlySafair doesn’t change their position or their policies, the mandate from our members is clear: they want to take strike action,” Cronjé said in a public radio interview.

According to The South African, Gordon, said the airline is doing everything it can to keep passengers informed and reduce inconvenience.

“We have no line of sight as to whether a strike will take place and if so, for how long and to what extent, but we’ve decided to act pre-emptively to ensure that any possible disruptions are minimised,” Gordon said.

The airline, which accounts for around 60% of South Africa’s domestic seat capacity and carries roughly 30,000 passengers a day, has begun directly contacting affected customers. Passengers will be allowed to rebook flights for free using the “Manage Booking” portal on the FlySafair website.

The airline has emphasised that these changes are voluntary for now, but may become necessary should a strike be confirmed.