The country’s national carrier, South African Airways (SAA) may be shut for business following an urgent strike application which is likely to see the airline left without cabin crew and staff.

The strike action, tabled by trade unions, comes in the wake of SAA’s confirmation that a restructuring process will result in job losses.

During a meeting with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), SAA revealed that, in order to rescue to business, it would need to engage a restructuring and that job loss would, unfortunately, be part of the process.

SAA’s Acting CFO, Deon Fredericks, told the media, on Tuesday, though, that if the strike goes ahead, it could result in a complete operational meltdown and destroy every single job at the state-owned airline.

Unions are expected to mobilise their members before the week is done unless another arrangement can be reached with the airline.