Umfolozi From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2422 times:
SAA is willing to lose up to a quarter of it's pilots as a result of restructuring at the company, knowing that there is a major shortage of pilots worldwide currently and that these highly trained people cannot be replaced. That is 225 out of it's current 783 pilots. Role players in the South African aviation industry are shocked that SAA is prepared to do this, whilst over 12000 pilot posts are currently advertised worldwide. These retrenchments are part of SAA's restructuring plan in order to cut it's operating costs by R638 million. Captain Jimmy Conroy, head of SAA's pilot's association (Saapa), says that since these restructuring plans went public, many international airlines started to approach South Africa for pilots. Emirates recently had five promotion tours here. Cathay Pacific also tried to gain a few pilots from here.
Not only SAA, but also pilots from other domestic airlines are being aggressively lured with salaries up to 2x more than what they are currently earning.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1951 times:
From the posts I have seen here at a.net, South African does NOT seem to have a cohesive business plan. First it was an all Boeing airline, then an all Airbus...then they hedged and kept the Boeings...now they're gone.
And routes to the U.S.? First Miami...then Atlanta...now Washington Dulles. One World (never a full member) to SkyTeam (never a member) to Star Alliance. Then there's been discussion of an announcement of a route to Chicago, but never loaded into the computers - then discontinued before it even began.
Now they are "downsizing" their pilot list by almost 30%. I'm sure there are plenty of airlines around the world that would be DELIGHTED to hire wide-body certified pilots with experience.
I'm not sure what SAA's strategy is - if they even have one - but it seems like this airline is self-destructing. If we one day see United Airlines flying their own metal to JNB or CPT, we'll know the end is near!
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Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15989 posts, RR: 59 Reply 4, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 1897 times:
SAA is losing money. They need to cut costs and that includes pilots. That's the way the private sector (aka the "real world") works. The revenue must cover the costs (including salaries) or the salaries need to be reduced.
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Threepoint From Canada, joined Oct 2005, 2091 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 1851 times:
Quoting Yyz717 (Reply 4): SAA is losing money. They need to cut costs and that includes pilots. That's the way the private sector (aka the "real world") works. The revenue must cover the costs (including salaries) or the salaries need to be reduced.
That's essentially what the original post stated and each successive post has corroborated. Do you have a source supporting the statement that SAA is losing money?
The nice thing about a mistake is the pleasure it gives others.
FLYACYYZ From Canada, joined Jan 2004, 1914 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 1791 times:
Quoting Threepoint (Reply 5): Do you have a source supporting the statement that SAA is losing money?
Virtually every aviation article covering SAA begins with "The ailing state airline".....
Fleet changes, management restructuring, strikes, and the bold admission directly from the company that they're losing their asses on LHR routes, is probably not a recipe for financial success.
In spite of it all (and ironically), they still offer a great product and in-flight service.
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10663 posts, RR: 100 Reply 7, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1745 times:
Quoting Umfolozi (Thread starter): whilst over 12000 pilot posts are currently advertised worldwide.
Wow! Do you have a link?
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 3): I'm sure there are plenty of airlines around the world that would be DELIGHTED to hire wide-body certified pilots with experience.
Understatement of the thread.
I did a bit of web searching on the airline's financial situation and found a link showing that the South African government is having to pump money into the airline to give it a chance to survive: http://allafrica.com/stories/200710310206.html
In other words, this reorganization isn't by SAA's choice. It is being done to save the airline. Will other airlines grab the pilots? Of course. But until they have a positive ROI, they're on a watch list. Its never good for long term planning to be a subsidized airline (there is a history of being less competitive than free market rivals). But it looks like South Africa is doing what they can to preserve local jobs. Enough? Only time will tell.
But what airline isn't flying recruiters into Johannesburg? If not, why?
Good luck to all of those displaced. May they land in a better position.
Lightsaber
Jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7343 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1505 times:
SAA's flagship route is the JNB to LHR run. IF they can't make that work then SAA;s problems are more serious then getting rid of 744 and flying A340-600 as replacements.
Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6356 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1481 times:
Bennett123 From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 6356 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (5 years 6 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1449 times:
Clearly an SAA B747 pilot has few option in RSA.
However, equally clearly there will be options elsewhere.
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Wow! Do you have a link?
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