The ongoing strike at South African Airways (SAA) will have little to no impact on cargo handling operations despite the grounding of flights on Friday and Saturday.
Chairman of the Air Cargo Operators' Committee (ACOC), Alwyn Rautenbach, told FTW on Friday that the strike would have very little impact on forwarders, unless the protest action spread to the wider industry.
“There will be very little impact as SAA does not operate any exclusive routes and over capacity exists at the moment,” said Rautenbach.
“As long as the strike does not develop into sympathy strikes in the rest of the industry, the SAA strike is not likely to affect the entire industry.”
However, Rautenbach has urged forwarders to have contingency plans in place, and make alternative arrangements with other carriers in case the industrial action worsens.
- Shippers and forwarders affected by the strike can email bjornv@nowmedia.co.za.