South African Airways (SAA) has announced a reduced flight schedule as pilots prepare to strike over a wage dispute.
The strike was set to begin on 5 December and involves members of the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA) and the National Transport Movement.
Contingency plans in place
SAA has activated contingency measures to minimise disruption. A limited flight schedule is in operation, and affected passengers are being re-accommodated on other airlines. Details of the new schedule and re-accommodation plans have been communicated to travel agents and passengers through various SAA channels, including its website and app.
Interim CEO Professor John Lamola said, “This situation is regrettable, and we acknowledge the trust our customers place in us for their travel needs. We are committed to ensuring that all passengers reach their destinations, despite the challenges posed by a limited schedule and necessary re-accommodations on other airlines.”
Passengers to be re-accommodated
SAA has assured passengers affected by the strike that they will be rebooked on the next available flights operated by the airline. For those on impacted flights, including SA280 on 5 December (Johannesburg–Perth) and SA281 on 6 December (Perth–Johannesburg), passengers will also have the option of re-accommodation on partner or Star Alliance airlines.
Travel agents are advised to monitor their booking queues and directly inform affected passengers, particularly when the agents’ contact details are provided instead of the passengers’.
Policy highlights for affected travellers
- Passengers holding tickets issued by SAA (083 Ticket Stock) will be re-accommodated without additional costs or changes to the cabin class.
- Re-accommodation on partner airlines will be communicated to passengers through the details provided in their bookings.
- Passengers opting to defer their travel plans must cancel the affected sectors to avoid no-show penalties.
If customers prefer not to travel, SAA offers several alternatives:
- Full refunds, including taxes, for tickets issued on SAA stock.
- Credit the full ticket value to a Voyager Credit Wallet, with points valid for three years.
- Free changes to the next available flight for bookings made on or before 31 December 2024.
Travel agents and customers can contact SAA at SAAAustralia@flysaa.com or SAAschedulechange@flysaa.com for ticket issues, and VoyagerServices@flysaa.com for loyalty program queries.
