Saturday, August 6, 2011

Air Zimbabwe pilots wants $200 000 to return to work

Air Zimbabwe pilots and management were yesterday still deadlocked over outstanding salaries and allowances. This was amid indications the strike by the pilots had impacted heavily on the airline's revenue.

The strike by the cockpit crew enters its seventh day today.

Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive Mr Innocent Mavhunga last night confirmed there was no headway over the matter because there was no money to pay the pilots.

"There is nothing yet because we still don't have the money but we are hoping that maybe by Wednesday (today) the board and the shareholder will come up with something.

Mavhunga said management, the board and the shareholder are trying their level best to solve this issue and in the meantime negotiations are continuing.

Mr Mavhunga said the strike was a major blow to the national airline, which was still trying to recover from the previous strike.

From the previous strike Air Zimbabwe lost about $5 million per month and this time around it is likely to go up.

Air Zimbabwe is currently incurring losses of about $3,5 million per month because of its bloated staff against generated income.

The national airline has already indicated it would cut its staff to around 409. Currently the airline employs over 1 300 workers. The pilots say they want $200 000 for them to return to work.