CAIRO — When the wave of factional sit-ins and strikes subsided in Egypt, 250 Egyptian pilots resigned collectively from EgyptAir on May 6, causing yet another crisis to flare up in the country. This move is a threat to Egyptian air traffic, as the resigned pilots constitute almost one-third of the company’s 850 pilots. Another group of pilots is also threatening to leave the airline.

In this context, Sherif al-Manawi, the spokesman of the Egyptian Pilots Association, said in the ONTV program “Manshet” on May 6 that the resignation came in protest against the new financial regulations approved by EgyptAir management. The same statement was reiterated by Ali Rushdi, a member of the association’s board of directors, in a press statement on May 7.

Ahmed Younes, another member of the Egyptian Pilots Association board of directors, told Al-Monitor, “According to the new financial regulations, vacations, days off and sick leaves will be deducted from the pilots’ salaries, should their direct manager not approve them. Further deductions will be made in case pilots do not complete 55 hours of service a month, disregarding any exceptional conditions such as aircraft malfunctions or canceled flights. Thus, completing the required number of hours is a difficult task to achieve.”

Furthermore, as per the new regulations, a pilot's salary is reduced by 50% should he fail to attend any of the training courses organized by EgyptAir, with no exceptions for any kind of emergency.