Johannesburg – Under pressure from a pilots’ strike, FlySafair has agreed to participate in a mediation process with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
After several flights were cancelled, the low-cost airline agreed to seek mediation to break the impasse over a 10.5 percent salary hike the pilots are demanding.
Helgard Cronjé, spokesperson for Solidarity, the union that represents most of the pilots, on Monday, 21 July 2025, said it “welcomes FlySafair’s decision, albeit under pressure, to participate in the mediation process”.
The mediation process was requested by the CCMA, in terms of section 150 of the Labour Relations Act.
“Although FlySafair had the opportunity to defuse this labour dispute this past weekend, and spare thousands of passengers the frustration of a strike, they have only now, after widespread publicity and frustration, reluctantly agreed,” said Cronjé.
The union spokesperson said the pressure comes after approximately 90% of FlySafair’s pilots affiliated with Solidarity declared their willingness to strike for one day.
In response, FlySafair decided to escalate the dispute and indicated that they would lock out the pilots for seven days.
Disruptions could last up to two weeks and Solidarity is therefore once again determined to resolve the situation at the negotiating table for the sake of its members – and passengers.
Cronjé, spokesperson and deputy general secretary of public industry at Solidarity, said there were still doubts about whether FlySafair is approaching the situation with the necessary urgency.
Despite this, Solidarity’s request to negotiate with FlySafair today (21 July) is not being taken seriously.
“FlySafair underestimated how disruptive the lock-out will be. It is costing them too much and the passengers are paying the price,” stated Cronjé.
“Still, FlySafair has indicated that they are willing to start the negotiation process only by Wednesday.
“As a result, thousands more passengers will be affected before FlySafair comes to the table,” says Cronjé.
Solidarity said it hopes that FlySafair’s agreement to the mediation process will mark the beginning of real solutions – solutions that address the concerns of their pilots with genuine seriousness and that could pave the way for improved working relations in the future.
