Pilot strike at Mango delays several flights

SEVERAL flights from Mango were delayed yesterday following strike action by the airline’s pilots.

The budget airline’s spokesman, Sergio dos Santos, said Mango had managed to reassign passengers to other airlines.

“By [Sunday] afternoon‚ people had received SMSes on the strike and were reaccommodated at other airlines‚” he said.

“Operations are running‚ and people are reaching their destinations.”

The delays were between eight and 40 minutes, Dos Santos said.

The airline had urged passengers to be on the lookout for text messages and social media messages for updates.

Some of the delayed flights included the 8.45am flight from Lanseria to Cape Town‚ the 10.50am from Cape Town to Johannesburg‚ the 3.20pm from Cape Town to Johannesburg and the 4pm from George to Johannesburg.

Trade union Solidarity‚ which represents 95% of the workers‚ said the strike broke out as a result of failed negotiations with Mango airline.

“Notwithstanding that Mango pilots are paid significantly less than the industry standard‚ management showed no interest at all to negotiate with its employees,“union spokesman Deon Reyneke said.

The union was demanding an 8.5% increase‚ while Mango was offering only 6%.

Meanwhile, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) yesterday called off an SA Airlink strike‚ the union said.

A strike was due‚ but Satawu spokesman Matthew Ramosie said it was called off after negotiations with the airline’s management yesterday morning.

“The SA Airlink CEO called a meeting and reached an agreement,” Ramosie said.

“On top of 10%, R2 000 a month will be added to employee salaries.” – TimesLIVE