BDLive reports that South African Airways (SAA) is forging ahead with plans to rationalise flight deck crew costs, which may land it in a court fight with its about 800 pilots.  

The company says there is a need to interrogate and amend the "onerous" collective agreements with crew.  Amending the pilots’ regulating agreement, however, requires buy-in from the SA Airways Pilots Association (Saapa), which has previously indicated that it will oppose proposed changes to existing agreements.  SAA spokesman Tlali Tlali confirmed that "there is a process of engagement currently under way between SAA and Saapa that relates to the existing recognition agreement between the airline and its pilots.”  He declined to provide details.  The Saapa chairman could not be reached for comment at the weekend.

• Read this report by Bekezela Phakathi in full at BDLive

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