Business / Companies
Air Zimbabwe hit by skills flight
07 Jun 2016 at 06:44hrs | Views
THE national airline, Air Zimbabwe, is experiencing massive loss of skills because of poor working conditions, an official told Parliament yesterday.
Briefing a parliamentary select committee on transport on the state of affairs at the airline, Zimbabwe Flight Crew Association chairman Captain Otis Shonhai said Air Zimbabwe lost 10 pilots last year to rival airlines due to unattractive remuneration and lack of retention packages.
"We started off last year as 45 pilots, we're down to 35. So we've lost 10 pilots to other airlines and the company isn't making any efforts to retain the skills," he said.
Capt Shonhai said AirZim employees had endured poor working conditions since 2009.
"From 2009 to date, our working conditions weren't the best. I commend these men and women for being patriotic. They've stood with the airline even at such times when we went for multiple months without getting a salary," he said.
"We haven't got proper working contracts; we're just on a working allowance. Our salaries have been far below the industry levels."
Capt Shonhai said the airline is also failing to pay retention packages.
"There's lack of interest to retain the skilled manpower that we have," he said.
Capt Shonhai said there are also two unfulfilled settlement agreements for outstanding workers' salaries.
He, however, added: "We want to guarantee you that we will remain patriotic and if you see us coming to work we will be coming to do what we're supposed to do."
AirZim has been struggling to regain lost market share since returning to the skies in November 2012, after being grounded in 2011.
The airline is operating three weekly flights to Lusaka and twice Tanzania, in addition to flights into Johannesburg from Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Air Zimbabwe is struggling with debts estimated at well over $200 million.
Source - New Ziana.
