FlySafair has initiated a lockout of select cabin crew members commencing Monday evening, barring them from duties unless a wage accord is forged in ongoing negotiations, According to SA Labour News. The low-cost carrier intends to enlist the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to broker discussions, amid a deadlock with the South African Cabin Crew Association, which advocates for sixty-five per cent of its eight hundred flight attendants.
The union’s deputy president, Christopher Shabangu, indicated that deliberations continue on FlySafair’s most recent proposal tendered Monday, with preliminary signals suggesting rejection. No certificate of non-resolution has yet emerged from the commission, nor has a formal strike notice been issued, though the association harbours no immediate plans for industrial action, prioritising resolution of ancillary terms.
FlySafair characterised its proposition as equitable, encompassing a five point seven per cent salary uplift, a seven point five per cent yearly bonus, sundry allowances, and incremental pay scales—deemed rebuffed by the union. The airline assures minimal flight interruptions, leveraging non-union personnel and contingency measures to sustain operations.
This impasse echoes prior tensions: in October 2025, the association flagged potential strikes after talks faltered, demanding an eight per cent hike against the carrier’s four per cent counter, as reported by The South African. FlySafair, a Safair subsidiary and South Africa’s premier budget airline with over sixty per cent domestic market share, ferries twelve million passengers annually across forty routes, per its corporate profile.
The dispute unfolds against aviation sector volatility, marked by fuel volatility and post-pandemic recovery, with South African carriers like SAA and Mango navigating restructurings. Cabin crew, pivotal for safety and service, often endure irregular hours and modest base pay—averaging R15,000 monthly pre-allowances—prompting union pushes for enhanced conditions amid six per cent inflation.
FlySafair maintains the lockout safeguards business continuity while pursuing dialogue, with no disruptions anticipated, according to News24. As Africa’s fastest-growing airline, boasting a ninety-seven per cent on-time rate and R10 billion yearly revenue, as cited by Aviation Week, resolving this swiftly is crucial to preserving its low-fare, high-reliability ethos amid burgeoning tourism demand.