FlySafair Denies That Flights Were Cancelled Amid Pilots’ Strike, SA Worried

FlySafair Denies That Flights Were Cancelled Amid Pilots’ Strike, SA Worried

  • South Africans were concerned that the FlySafair pilot strike was affecting travel plans in the country
  • Over a dozen flights were cancelled after the pilots embarked on a wage strike, which began on 21 July
  • Some South Africans supported the pilots' strike and accused FlySafair of exploiting its employees

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues, including health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests, and immigration in South Africa, during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

FlySafair responded to allegations that their flights were cancelled
FlySafair reacted after its pilots went on strike. Image: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images and Roberta Ciuccio / AFP via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

JOHANNESBURG — FlySafair denied that its flights were cancelled because of its pilots' strike after they downed tools on 21 July 2025.

In a statement that Briefly News has seen, FlySafair confirmed that all of the flights for 22 July are on schedule and will be departing as planned despite ongoing industrial action.

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The airline said it is operating at a reduced schedule, which it implemented the previous week, and will communicate with the affected customers. Only two flights, namely the 16:45 departure from Cape Town to Lanseria and the 19:30 return flight, were canceled yesterday.

When did the strike start?

The strike began on 21 July after negotiations between the pilots and the airline reached a deadlock. Pilots belonging to trade union Solidarity are demanding a 10.5% hike, and FlySafair offered a 5.7% increase, which the pilots rejected.

FlySafair's Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon said that pilots are in the top 1% of earners, and captains earn between R1.8 million to R2.3 million a year. However, FlySafair is expecting to meet the Council of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on 23 July.

Passengers were left stranded at the OR Tambo International Airport after 26 flights were reportedly cancelled. One of the customers said that FlySafair communicated the possible flight cancellation with them.

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Stories about FlySafair

In March, former South African Broadcasting Corporation brand manager Nobuhle Mkhize apologised to the coloured community after her altercation with a flight attendant on 26 December 2024 went viral. She also revealed that she took legal action against her employee.

Two men got into a heated altercation on a FlySafair flight, and one of them was restrained by a fellow passenger. The man who was retrained allegedly threatened passengers, and passengers who work in the security sector retrained him.

FlySafair pilots are demanding a 10% increaseon their salary
FlySafair pilots are on strike. Image: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

What did South Africans say?

Netizens debated the protest.

Maneli Jola said:

"I hope Durban to Johannesburg isn't affected."

Phuti Mabotja said:

"This is the result of exploitation."

Cate Cathy Howell said:

"Other news channels say they're triking for more rest time. They are not striking about wages. The pilots are striking about the amount of back-to-back hours they're being forced to work."

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Mpho Mchawe said:

"I'm in trouble as I booked Nelspruit to Cape Town, and I have to go tomorrow."

FlySafair passenger saves the day

In a related article, Briefly News reported that an off-duty pilot saved the day after one of the pilots fell sick while on a flight from George to Gauteng. The incident happened on a FlySafair flight.

Flight FA711's flight started feeling unwell during the flight and informed the First Officer. The First Officer asked if a registered pilot was on board. Fortunately, there was, and he assisted the First Officer to land the plane.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Tebogo Mokwena avatar

Tebogo Mokwena (Current Affairs editor) Tebogo Mokwena joined Briefly News in 2023 and is a Current Affairs writer. He has a Diploma in Journalism from ALISON. He joined Daily Sun, where he worked for 4 years covering politics, crime, entertainment, current affairs, policy, governance and art. He was also a sub-editor and journalist for Capricorn Post before joining Vutivi Business News in 2020, where he covered small business news policy and governance, analysis and profiles. Tebogo passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative Email: tebogo.mokwena@briefly.co.za

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