Johannesburg – Under stress from a pilots’ strike, FlySafair has agreed to take part in a mediation course of with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
After a number of flights had been cancelled, the low-cost airline agreed to hunt mediation to interrupt the deadlock over a ten % wage hike the pilots are demanding.
Helgard Cronjé, spokesperson for Solidarity, the union that represents a lot of the pilots, on Monday, 21 July 2025, stated it “welcomes FlySafair’s choice, albeit below stress, to take part within the mediation course of”.
The mediation course of was requested by the CCMA, by way of part 150 of the Labour Relations Act.
“Although FlySafair had the chance to defuse this labour dispute this previous weekend, and spare hundreds of passengers the frustration of a strike, they’ve solely now, after widespread publicity and frustration, reluctantly agreed,” stated Cronjé.
The union spokesperson stated the stress comes after roughly 90% of FlySafair’s pilots affiliated with Solidarity declared their willingness to strike for someday.
In response, FlySafair determined to escalate the dispute and indicated that they might lock out the pilots for seven days.
Disruptions might last as long as two weeks and Solidarity is due to this fact as soon as once more decided to resolve the state of affairs on the negotiating desk for the sake of its members – and passengers.
Cronjé, spokesperson and deputy basic secretary of public trade at Solidarity, stated there have been nonetheless doubts about whether or not FlySafair is approaching the state of affairs with the required urgency.
Despite this, Solidarity’s request to barter with FlySafair at present (21 July) isn’t being taken severely.
“FlySafair underestimated how disruptive the lock-out will likely be. It is costing them an excessive amount of and the passengers are paying the worth,” said Cronjé.
“Still, FlySafair has indicated that they’re prepared to begin the negotiation course of solely by Wednesday.
“As a end result, hundreds extra passengers will likely be affected earlier than FlySafair involves the desk,” says Cronjé.
Solidarity stated it hopes that FlySafair’s settlement to the mediation course of will mark the start of actual options – options that tackle the considerations of their pilots with real seriousness and that would pave the best way for improved working relations sooner or later.
