Air Zimbabwe pilots Friday ended a two-week pay-relate d strike which airline officials said had cost the national carrier more than US$5 million in lost revenue.
All of the airline’s 40 pilots downed tools two weeks ago demanding payment of a ccumulated salary and allowance arrears.
Air Zimbabwe, which is still recovering from the country’s decade-long economic crisis, was forced to hire planes and crew from South Africa to service some of its lucrative domestic and regional routes.
The government, which owns the airline, intervened Thursday and brokered a deal to end the strike. It did not give much details of the agreement, saying only that the pilots would be paid.
”All pilots have agreed to return to work and, subject to operational requireme nts being met, normal flights are expected to resume on Friday,” the Transport Ministry said in a statement.
The airline, which flies to many domestic, regional and international destinatio ns, lost US$500,000 a day during the strike.
The aircraft it hired from South Africa only serviced one local and regional des tinations, far short of its normal full coverage.
