The French government has renewed calls for an end to the Air France pilots’ strike which has now entered its second week and costing the airline around €10 million to €15 million a day.
The SNPL union last night voted to extend the strike to September 26 over the carrier’s plans to expand its low-cost subsidiary Transavia.
France’s transport minister Alain Vidalies said today that the future of Air France is “at stake” and for the company to move forward it must expand its low-cost venture.
"There must be a positive approach in this situation, otherwise I think that it's the fate of the company that could be at stake," Vidalies told France Info radio.
"The low cost [sector] is not a choice, it's an obligatory move, that's reality. I think pilots are fully aware of this," he said.
Pilots are striking after Air France announced it is aiming to transfer most of its short and medium-haul services to Transavia. A move unions claim will affect working and pay conditions.
Air France has said it would consider negotiating benefits based on seniority of pilots who agree to work for its low-cost airline.
However, it would not agree to demands that the contracts of Transavia pilots carry the same terms as those flying under Air France.
“Service must resume right now, that's what the country wants and all those involved must understand that," Jean-Marie Le Guen, minister in charge of relations with parliament, said before fresh talks on Monday between unions and management.
"Very quickly, the management must make a certain number of clarifications on their proposals," he added.
Air France said it expects to operate 41 per cent of its flight today (September 22), with an estimated 65 per cent of pilots planning to strike.
The airline is urging passengers with a flight reservation between September 22 and 26 to postpone their trip or change their ticket “at no extra cost”.
Airfrance.com