Singapore Airlines close to deal with pilots' union

Airline Industry Information, Sept 9, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Singapore Airlines is close to signing a new deal with its pilots after one of the worst industrial disputes to hit the airline for nearly 20 years.

The battle over wages and annual leave has seen 40 pilots resign in the last six months but a new deal which has ironed out the main sticking points is set to be signed in the next few days according to both union and airline officials.

No information on the new package was released but it is thought that pilots' annual leave would rise from 28 to 36 days and their salaries restored to pre-2003 levels when they were cut due to the SARS outbreak and subsequent airline market crash in the region, reports Reuters.

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