FlySafair pilots begin nationwide strike, flights face major disruptions

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Emilio Ghigini

21.07.2025

FlySafair pilots begin nationwide strike, flights face major disruptions — FlySafair rejects Union demands, offers 5.7% raise

Pilots at FlySafair, South Africa’s largest airline, began a strike on Tuesday, July 22, which could last up to two weeks and severely disrupt domestic air travel across the country.

The strike began as a one-day action organized by the Solidarity union but was extended after pilots voted for a seven-day strike with the possibility of extending it for another week.FlySafair is responsible for around 60% of South Africa’s domestic passenger traffic, transporting approximately 30,000 passengers per day.

On July 21, the airline had already been forced to cancel some flights after flight crews initially confirmed their availability, then withdrew at the last moment.

In a public statement, FlySafair emphasized its commitment to passengers and constructive engagement with pilots.

“FlySafair pilots are among the highest-paid professionals in the country. Our captains earn between 1.8 and 2.3 million rand per year ($100,800 – $128,800), placing them within the top 1% of earners in South Africa. Many pilots earn more than members of the airline’s executive committee. These salaries are regularly benchmarked against competitors and exceed most,” the statement reads.

The airline added that average pilot flight time (63 hours per month) is well below the 100-hour monthly limit set by the Civil Aviation Authority, IATA, and ICAO.

Additional duties—such as training, office tasks, and on-call standby (from home with minimal restrictions)—are also considered.

Union demands

At the heart of the conflict is a dispute over pay and scheduling. The Solidarity union is demanding a 10.5% increase in base salaries along with additional flight pay and bonuses.

The company rejected the demand as financially unsustainable, saying it would increase total payroll expenses by more than 20%.Instead, FlySafair offered a 5.7% increase—1.5% above inflation. Including performance-based bonuses, this offer would raise total payroll expenses by 11.29%.

FlySafair argues that its offer balances pilot compensation with the airline’s financial health and service affordability. The proposal considers the needs of the company’s other 1,700 employees as well as pilot concerns.

Another key issue is a new pilot scheduling system introduced earlier this year. The system provides full monthly schedules by the 20th of the previous month, allows structured vacation requests, and offers a shift-swapping platform within regulatory limits.

FlySafair maintains that this system is in line with global aviation standards and is used by all other major South African airlines.The airline claims Solidarity’s push to change it would remove its advantages and undermine FlySafair’s ability to compete and operate efficiently.

As we wrote, Rand holds flat with inflation in focus ahead of SARB decision

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