SAA pilot strike also affects flights to Windhoek

Holidaymakers in Namibia from Europe flying via Johannesburg to Windhoek must expect delays or even flight cancellations. The reason is a strike by the pilots of the airline South African Airways (SAA).

SAA has announced that the pilots' association (SAAPA) will continue its strike today, the tourism portal Southern & East African Tourism Update reports. It is not yet known when the strike will end.

This has resulted in flight cancellations, also affecting SAA flights on the Johannesburg - Windhoek route. Customers whose flights are cancelled can rebook on one of the next available flights or on flights of a later date, it was said.

Flights operated by partner airlines, including Star Alliance and codeshare flights, will operate as scheduled.

Nevertheless, travellers who are not flying with SAA should also plan more time at Johannesburg airport. As affected SAA passengers are looking for alternatives, the counters may be more busy than usual, according to the report.

The background to the strike at SAA is a labour dispute. The pilots' association SAAPA is demanding a wage increase of 30%. SAA has so far only offered 8.46%.

Sven-Eric Stender