OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 4.00pm.
INDUSTRIAL action at Johannesburg airport disrupted flights on Friday causing delays for as long as three hours, senior officials said.
Airport Company of South Africa (Acsa) spokesperson Rory Mackey said industrial action by workers at handling firm Swiss Port started at 8.45am and is causing disruptions at major airports across the country.
Officials said the strike action was sparked by disagreements over the awarding of an airport service contract.
Managers at Acsa said up to 10 employees, taking part in the industrial action, have been arrested by police.
Security officials said police and units of the South African National Defence Force are deployed at the airport to maintain law and order during the strike.
Earlier in the day there were reports that a British Airways flight unloaded its passengers who were assaulted by strikers as they walked to the terminal, a witness said.
One of the grounded aeroplanes was bound for the Face of Africa modelling competition in Namibia.
Mackey said up to 19 planes, operating domestic and international routes, were unable to reach their parking bays after landing at the airport.
”This action was in the form of [strikers] marching and driving equipment into certain locations of the airport and leaving it stationary,” Mackey added.
Leon Els, spokesperson for South African Airways, said the strike action delayed 13 SAA international and domestic flights and left many travellers stranded at various airports across the country.
”We have 13 flights delayed for up to three hours. This has been caused by a strike at Swiss Port. It has nothing to do with us,” he said.
Els could not comment further on the strike, saying it was an internal dispute within Swiss Port. Officials at Swiss Port were not available for comment. — Reuters