Moneyweb reports that SA Airways (SAA) management and the SAA Pilots’ Association (Saapa) are due to meet on Wednesday over pending payment disputes. This is according to Saapa chair Captain Grant Back.

Although SAA exited business rescue at the end of April, the airline and Saapa did not reach agreement on three issues, namely, retrenchment packages and salaries owed to Saapa members; the contentious Regulatory Agreement (RA); and the lockout of pilots since December 2020. The parties are expected to hash out the pending issues, as well as an arbitration ruling handed down on Friday ordering SAA to pay Saapa’s 360 members backdated meal allowances and salaries for the six months to December 2020. The ruling noted that Saapa members were entitled to nearly R11 million in payments for domestic and international meal allowances prior to the airline entering business rescue in December 2019. Saapa had argued that SAA incorrectly characterised the payments of the meal allowances as concurrent claims instead of preferred claims in line with Section 144 of the Companies Act. Back pointed out the airline was required to calculate the final amount owed to Saapa members regarding salary payments. SAA indicated that it was still studying the ruling and would comment in due course. Saapa pilots are currently on strike.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Maeko at Moneyweb

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