Smartwings Faces Strike Alert: Pilots Allege Illegal Rostering and Excessive Workloads

The primary reason is reported to be the systematic violation of regulations concerning crew rest periods and work scheduling.

The strike alert was declared effective Monday, June 2nd, and will remain in place until further notice. After ten days, the trade unions will assess whether the grounds for the alert persist and do not rule out escalating to a full strike.

“Over 90 percent of pilots have expressed support for this action,” states Jiří Rolek, Chairman of Smart Unity. He emphasizes, however, that any operational disruptions cannot be attributed to pilots’ unwillingness to work: “If flight operations are curtailed, it is solely due to chronic understaffing. The company has been addressing this situation long-term by forcing us to operate at the edge, or even beyond, safety and rest limits. This can no longer be tolerated.”

Critical Situation in the Cockpit

Unions warn that Smartwings repeatedly violates regulations for scheduling rest periods and duty shifts to an extent they no longer consider safe. Rosters are frequently changed with minimal notice, pilots are deprived of guaranteed rest, and shifts are altered less than 48 hours in advance. In some cases, according to union statements, pilots are forced to report for duty with minimal recovery time.

“We have been trying to negotiate with management for over two years, nearly one of those officially under the union banner. Our working conditions are unsustainable. The Czech Civil Aviation Authority recently published the results of a survey on the impact of fatigue on flight crews, which revealed an alarming situation. The season hasn’t even fully begun, and we are already short of crews. Therefore, in mid-May, we called for clear steps to improve the situation. However, there was no response, which is why we are declaring a strike alert from Monday, June 2nd, 2025,” says Jiří Rolek, a pilot and chairman of the Smart Unity pilots’ union, which represents Smartwings pilots.

“Pilots are overworked and under constant pressure, which increases the risk of error during flight. This system is not sustainable in the long term and endangers not only employees but also passenger safety,” states the Smart Unity trade union in its announcement.

Demands: Stability, Adherence to Regulations, and Safety

The main demands of the trade unions include:

Ensuring compliance with minimum rest period and duty planning regulations in accordance with EU rules (specifically EASA FTL),
Transparent and predictable work scheduling without frequent last-minute interventions,
An end to pressure on personnel and the reduction of operational reserves,
Improved communication between management and crews,
Enhanced flight safety, particularly for operations to higher-risk destinations (e.g., Israel, India),
Increased wages and reduced staff turnover — currently, over 60% of first officers have been with the company for less than 3 years.

Company’s Response: “Everything is Operating Smoothly”

Smartwings claims that operational provisions for the summer season are sufficient. The company employs nearly 600 pilots and operates 46 aircraft. 145 pilots have joined the strike alert (which, according to a Smart Unity press release, represents 99% of the voting members of this particular union), a figure the company regards as a minority. Smartwings also asserts that any potential strike would be illegal.

What Can Passengers Expect?

Unions are now urging employees not to accept arbitrary roster changes inconsistent with their employment conditions and to adhere strictly to what is mandated by law and their employment contracts. This could lead to flight cancellations or delays, especially during the peak summer season.