Wage strike 'will ground planes'

Should they walk out, it'll be disastrous, says one carrier.

- Hein Kaiser

SA's airspace could become empty space if current wage negotiations between Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) and the South African Transport Allied Workers Union (Satawu) don't land.

Workers want 6.5% and ATNS put 2% less on the table.

Negotiations stalled last week and the union warned that, should no agreement be reached, workers would down tools.

The consequences for the aviation sector could be dire and cost the economy millions of rands.

The knock-on effect of a single flight delay is substantial. From connecting flight misses, to the cost of additional operating crew.

An airline executive said delays rip through already thin margins. "It's a very costly burden for airlines and it's the airlines that carry the can," he said.