Cape Town — Thousands of South African Airways (SAA) passengers remain stranded as industrial action by the airline's cabin crew and ground staff enters its fourth day today with no solution in sight.

The airline has had to cancel all its regional and international flights while domestic flights were being assessed on an hourly basis prior to departure.

SAA spokesman Onkgopotse JJ Tabane said yesterday SAA was waiting for trade unions to report back on its final offer.

SAA offered a 5% across-the board-increase and a once-off payment of R1600 during long and tough negotiations on Saturday. The offer was far off the 8% demanded by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) and the United Association of SA.

Tabane said SAA would be able to determine the cost of the strike only once it had ended.

The Airports Company SA, which derives some of its income from landing fees, will also suffer a loss due to the reduced number of flights, but Johannesburg International Airport spokeswoman Jackie O'Sullivan was not able to quantify this.

Passengers who were unable to fly on SAA's daily schedule of about 200 local and international flights are being accommodated at SAA's expense at hotels.

Tabane said SAA had managed to get a "significant number" of its customers to their destinations on other airlines such as British Airways, SA Express and Nationwide, which had deployed five of its aircraft on the Johannesburg-Durban route.

Satawu general secretary Randall Howard said SAA's offer would be taken back to members.

SAA called on passengers to postpone their travel plans or make alternative arrangements. About 10000 staff are on strike.