South African Airways (SAA) pilots have suspended their strike, which began on December 5, 2024, following successful negotiations between SAA Executive Management and the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA).
The dispute started with SAAPA’s demand for a 30% salary increase, which was later revised to 15.7%, including associated benefits.
In response, SAA initially offered an 8.46% pay increase backdated to April. After further negotiations, SAA raised its offer to a 9.47% increase.
On the first day of the strike, Thursday, SAA operated 51% of its planned flights, including just 33% of its international routes.
However, by Saturday afternoon, more than 100 pilots were expected to return to their duties, and SAA was on track to restore a full flight schedule by Sunday, December 8, 2024.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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South African Airways pilots were on strike for more pay, but they stopped the strike after reaching a deal with the airline. The pilots wanted a 30% raise, then settled for 15.7%. The airline initially offered 8.46%, but increased it to 9.47%. During the strike, only 51% of flights were running. Over 100 pilots returned to work, and all flights were expected to be back to normal by Sunday. The dispute was resolved, and flights are back to normal.

South African Airways Pilots Return To Work After Salary Dispute Resolved

South African Airways (SAA) reported that it is still facing challenges in repatriating over US$50 million from Zimbabwe. This amount is approximately R1 billion.
As reported by <a href="https://www.ewn.co.za/2024/10/23/saa-says-its-struggling-to-get-over-r1-billion-out-of-zimbabwe">Eyewitness News</a>, during a session with Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), it was revealed that the ongoing struggle to retrieve these funds, primarily from ticket sales, continues.
SCOPA chairperson Songezo Zibi raised concerns about whether it might be time to seize assets in South Africa to recover the stranded money.
Zimbabwe has been experiencing a foreign exchange crisis since 2016, affecting several airlines in a similar situation.
SAA Chief Financial Officer Lindsay Olitzski said that an agreement had been reached for US$9 million to remain in Zimbabwe for SAA’s local use. Said Olitzski:
<blockquote>
The remaining $50 million is to be paid in installments of $1 million per quarter. This is a very long payment plan, and to date, we have not yet received any funds.
</blockquote>
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said she would consider addressing the issue diplomatically once she received a full report from the airline.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

South African Airways is trying to get $50 million back from Zimbabwe, but it's not happening. It's a big problem because the money is needed for the airline. Zimbabwe has had money troubles since 2016, and other airlines are also affected. The airline has only received $9 million so far, and the rest is supposed to be paid in small bits. The Transport Minister will try to solve the issue once she gets all the details. It's a long process, and the airline is still waiting for the money.

South African Airways' US$50 Million Stuck In Zimbabwe

South African Airways (SAA) says it will increase flight frequency on the Johannesburg-Harare route from 10 to 12 flights per week with effect from November 5, 2024.
In a Press statement on Friday, SAA country manager, Julia Rewayi, said this is in response to rising demand from travellers between the two cities. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
South African Airways (SAA) is pleased to announce that it has increased the number of flights between Harare and Johannesburg from 10 to 12 frequencies per week, with effect from 5 November 2024, to cater for the growing demand.
SAA customers will have the option of two additional flights from Harare to Johannesburg.
Harare flight details:
<ul>
<li>SA25 departs Harare at 07h20, arriving in Johannesburg at 09h00 (Monday to Friday)</li>
<li>SA23 departs Harare at 12h25, arriving in Johannesburg at 14h05 (Daily)</li>
</ul>
Johannesburg flight details:
<ul>
<li>SA22 departs Johannesburg at 10h00, arriving in Harare at 11h35 (Daily)</li>
<li>SA24 departs Johannesburg at 20h10 arriving in Harare at 21h45 (Sunday to Thursday)</li>
</ul>
The increased frequency is part of SAA’s densification strategy to meet customer demand in the African region, an important area for SAA’s growth strategy.
The increased demand is driven mainly by Zimbabwean expatriates, tourism and increased trade between the two countries.
This trend is expected to grow in the coming years as the political environment stabilises in Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

South African Airways is adding more flights between Harare and Johannesburg because more people want to travel between the two cities. Starting November 5, 2024, there will be 12 flights per week instead of 10. This is good news for customers who now have more options for when to fly. The increase is because of more Zimbabweans living abroad, tourists, and more trade between the countries. As Zimbabwe becomes more stable politically, more people are expected to travel between the two cities in the future.

South African Airways Increases Flights Between Harare And Johannesburg

South African Airways (SAA) has introduced new routes in the region as part of its post-COVID-19 restart operations.
The airline launched flights to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Windhoek in Namibia, as well as a flight to Gqeberha from OR Tambo International Airport.
SAA commenced flights to Windhoek on 8 December, with two flights scheduled per day for seven days a week.
The airliner’s flights to Victoria Falls started on Wednesday and flights will be available six days a week, excluding Saturdays.
Flights will leave Johannesburg at 10:15, with the estimated arrival at Victoria Falls International Airport being at 12:25.
Return flights will leave Victoria Falls at 13:10 each afternoon arriving in Johannesburg at 14:50.
SAA has also increased frequencies to Harare in order to accommodate customers ahead of the festive season, from seven to 10 flights a week.
SAA’s Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, Professor John Lamola said:
<blockquote>
In pursuit of this drive to please our customers, we are relentlessly working on expanding the network of destinations we serve, to enhance seamless travel connectivity.
Our new routes along with increased frequencies to our regional destinations represent the second phase of our post-Covid restart operations.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://vicfallslive.co.zw/south-african-airways-saa-relaunches-its-route-to-victoria-falls/">VicFallsLive</a>

South African Airways Relaunches Its Route To Victoria Falls

South African Airways (SAA) is set to introduce the Johannesburg to Victoria Falls flight by year-end as part of its expansion drive into the Zimbabwean market.
Currently, the airline is flying the Harare to Johannesburg route following its resumption of flights to Zimbabwe in September last year.
SAA interim chairperson and chief executive officer Professor John Lamola said they were in the process of doing a validation study which will eventually result in the introduction of the Victoria Falls fight by December.
Prof Lamola said Harare has always been an important market for South African Airways and the Victoria Falls flight will increase trade relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/sa-airways-to-add-more-flights-to-zimbabwe/">The Herald</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
We started in September last year with about three frequencies in a week but the market response is so strong,” 
A few months ago from March we started daily frequencies in Harare and Johannesburg. It is one of the most active of our routes which is a reflection of the trade, cultural and social connections between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
This is to expand our fleet capacity so that we can tackle the Victoria Falls market. We believe that hopefully by December we will be able to have some solution for that.
</blockquote>
Prof Lamola said South African Airways has always had this Pan-African strategic posture whose concern was to make air travel cheaper and accessible for the people of Africa.
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

South Africa Airways Set To Introduce Johannesburg - Victoria Falls Flights

South African Airways has announced the cancellation of nearly all its domestic and international flights as the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) has threatened industrial action following the airline’s plan to retrench workers.
In a statement, SAA announced on Wednesday night that it had cancelled nearly all its domestic, regional and international flights scheduled for Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16. The statement further read:
<blockquote>The airline’s key objective is to minimise the impact of disruptions for its customers.</blockquote>
The statement was issued after workers’ unions had earlier on Wednesday vowed that their members would continue with the scheduled industrial action. Addressing journalists in Johannesburg, Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi, president of the South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) said that the association was embarking “on the mother of all strikes”.
Meanwhile, Irvin Jim, general secretary of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) said:
<blockquote>We are grounding that airline on Friday.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-7683107/South-African-Airways-cancels-flights-ahead-strike.html">AFP</a>

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