Problem-plagued airline Lion Air has had to deal with everything from massive rage-inducing delays to accusations of baggage burglary just this year, but now it’s facing what might be one of its biggest challenges ever, with hundreds of the airlines pilots reportedly going on strike today.
Today, Tribunnews talked to a Lion Air pilot, who wished to remain anonymous, that said that at least 300 of the airline’s pilots were striking today due to late reimbursement of the pilot’s transportation fees.
“We demand the right to our transport money that has not yet been transferred by management. We do not want to fly as long as the money has not been transferred,” the pilot said, adding that the money should have been transferred on May 5.
The pilot told Tribunnews that the money was meant to cover their travel expenses and that the late payment was a violation of their contracts with Lion Air, which states that the company must provide their transportation money in advance.
So far, there are reports that the strike has already affected airports throughout Indonesia, causing flight delays in Bali, Makassar, Yogyakarta, Solo and Jakarta.
The full extent of the strike and its effect on the airline’s scheduled flights is not yet clear, but the Ministry of Transportation has already stated that it will sanction Lion Air and not allow it to open any new routes in the near future as punishment for today’s delays.
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