South African Airways flights resume as pilot strike ends

South African Airways has returned to its normal flight schedule after more than 100 striking pilots secured a pay increase from the airline and returned to work, spokesperson Vimla Maistry said by phone on Sunday. Unionized pilots for the airline went on strike on Thursday, causing the state-owned carrier to cancel about 60% of its flights. The industrial action ended on Saturday after the South African Airways Pilots Association and the company’s management reached an agreement, SAA said in a statement on Saturday. Under the terms of the agreement, SAA offered pilots a 1% salary bump, bringing the total increase to 9.47%. The union had been seeking an increase of 15.7% for its members. “Engagements on a continuous enterprise improvement program will continue over the next eight weeks,” Interim CEO John Lamola said in the statement. “We are committed to implementing work-life concessions that should enhance the productivity,” of the pilots. Founded in 1934, the flag carrier that received billions of rands of bailouts from the state entered a local form of bankruptcy protection in late 2019 and resumed flying in September 2021. In November, it reported a profit for the first time since 2012. <br/>