Air France has signed a deal with its pilots that will allow
the Air France-KLM Group to develop low-cost subsidiary Transavia’s French
domestic network as part of a wider group restructuring plan.
The agreement amends a 2019 agreement which lifted
restrictions on the growth of Transavia’s fleet and permits the airline to
operate routes within France. It also adjusts pilot guarantees on European
network activity in line with the levels of activity expected on the domestic
network over the coming years.
According to Air France-KLM, the domestic network has been a
loss-maker since 2000 despite ongoing restructuring. It’s French activity is
now facing competition from two major sources – the growth of low-cost rivals
and the TGV high-speed train network.
As part of the plan, Transavia will begin operating domestic
routes out of Paris-Orly and Lyon, taking over operations from Air France, while
continuing to expand its presence at all four of its bases, including Nantes
and Montpellier. Air France will continue to operate the popular La Navette
flights from Paris-Orly to Toulouse, Nice and Marseille, as well as flights to
Corsica. However, domestic routes from the airport where an alternative train
service under two hours and 30 minutes exists will be ceased in order to make
Transavia’s development more sustainable. Meanwhile, Air France will consolidate
its position at Lyon by developing new services with Hop! and Transavia.
The group said Transavia will announce its new domestic
route network and a schedule for launch “shortly”.
Anne Rigail, CEO of Air France, said: “Air France’s domestic
network is one of our group’s strategic assets. Connecting the French regions
and linking them to the rest of the world is integral to our business. To
ensure this activity continues, it is now essential to restore its balance. I
welcome the quality of the dialogue we have had with all our labour partners to
ensure Air France achieves this by 2023, by making the best use of our various
airlines’ unique assets. Together with the renewal of our fleet, this reorganisation
of our operations will also enable us to achieve our sustainable development
objectives, with a 50 per cent reduction in our domestic CO2 emissions by 2024.
In the face of this reorganisation, unwavering solidarity between the group’s
subsidiaries will be a priority.”