Early Breakfast withRelebogile Mabotja

The Money Show’s Bruce Whitfield interviewed Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association, about the science of fixing South African Airways, from the perspective of a pilot.

Scroll down for quotes from the audio below.

Pilots' pay is our number one problem.

— Dudu Myeni, SAA Chairperson

We’re a scapegoat for what’s happening at management level.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

Operationally SAA is very good, but unfortunately we’re seeing a failure at the top.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

All of SAA’s 760 pilots are members of our association.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

SAA’s pilots earn between R1 million and R3 million per year. These are good salaries, and it makes us a target.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

Even if all pilots worked for nothing SAA will still lose billions.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

Unless we get a recapitalisation from the government SAA won’t be a success.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

I don’t think SAA must make a profit, but we shouldn’t be such a huge drag on the shareholder.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

Minister Nene will appoint a new board soon. We need skilled, dedicated people on the board with experience in the airline industry.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

I can’t comment on whether Dudu Myeni is a disaster.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

We are passionate about SAA! It’s embarrassing to be a drain on the fiscus.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association

Most of all new recruitments are made to assist transformation.

— Captain John Harty, Chair of SAA Pilots Association