South African Airways might consider hiring staff from other countries
South African Airways says that it will look at hiring staff with specific skill sets from other countries, to rebuild the airline.
South African Airways is trying to scale up operations after exiting a lengthy business rescue process which saw the airline grounded for nearly two years.
SKILLS SHORTAGES
In a recent interview with aviation journalist Kurt Hoffman, SAA’s CEO John Lamola said that South African Airways was battling to hold onto key staff members with specific skills.
This is an obstacle that sets the airline back since SAA is trying to scale up without having key personnel with particular skill sets.
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SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS’ CHALLENGE
According to Sam Chui, one of SAA´s challenges is human capital. Getting the right cockpit crews, engineers, and pilots is proving difficult for the restructured airline.
Lamola said that SAA was at a disadvantage because many previous employees with these important skill sets have been enticed to work outside of the country for better wages.
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HIRING PEOPLE FROM ABROAD
He also said that the challenge caused by the shortage of specific skill sets will make it necessary for South African Airways to look at hiring personnel from abroad.
Due to a shortage of personnel with specific skill sets in South Africa, SAA will consider hiring individuals with the right credentials, from other countries.
“As the market boomed in the Middle East, they are sucking all the personnel. They are strong competitors, growing, they offering them packages and we are battling to keep our people in South Africa. But we want also to internationalize our SAA staff, we need people from other countries.” Lamola said, per Sam Chui.
SAA WET LEASES
South African Airways is already operating some of its flights with aircraft hired from Turkish aircraft lessor, SunExpress.
The airline currently has two aircraft on lease from SunExpress but these will soon return to Europe, for the busy European summer season.
However, SAA is set to double the number of aircraft it hires from SunExpress in the next calendar year. It will lease at least four Boeing 737-800 on a wet lease.
A wet lease is when an airline leases aircraft with the cockpit crew.