An SAA Boeing 747 photographed near OR Tambo International Airport (image: Bob Adams – CC BY-SA 2.0)

South African Airways has cancelled nearly all its flights scheduled for Friday, 15 November and Saturday, 16 November.

Cancellations follow announcement by South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) that their members will embark on industrial action from Friday morning.

The airline said action is being taken despite “SAA’s repeated overtures to the unions to acknowledge the severity of the current situation facing the airline”.

During negotiations, SAA presented a revised offer for employees delivering a 5.9% increase subject to availability of funds from lenders. Numsa and Sacca are demanding an 8% increase

Discussions are continuing to resolve the wage impasse.

The National Transport Movement has not stated whether its members will embark on a strike.  — Reported by Madison Park, (c) 2019 Bloomberg LP