News / France

More disruptions expected over Air France strike, flight crew unions warn

Monday, 01 August 2016 4:50 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 01 August 2016 4:50 PM ]

An Airbus A321 plane of the French airline Air France is seen on the tarmac at the Marseille-Provence airport in Marignane on the first day of a strike by Air France stewards, France, July 27, 2016. ©Reuters

Flight crew unions have warned that more stoppages may come out of an ongoing strike in Air France as the carrier struggles to cope with the ever-increasing costs of the industrial action.

Christophe Pillet for the SNPNC-FO cabin crew union said Monday that a further stoppage of flights, which he said could come as early as next week, would affect more and more passengers at the height of the travel period.

He noted that the disruption caused by six days of strike in Air France could affect up to 280,000 passengers, saying the action has cost the French carrier some 100 million euros (USD 111 million).

Meanwhile, Air France rejected the claims, saying there was no indication of more stoppages in the pipeline. A spokesman said cancellations were in line with forecasts.

Pillet said the union will convene a meeting by the end of the week “to decide on what course to take.”

He added that the unions were open to more discussion about a potential deal on wages and promotions that could end the stand-off.

“Management made the choice to break off social dialogue – we never closed the door on negotiation,” he said.

Passengers look at an electronic board displaying flight information which announces the cancellation of flights at the Marseille-Provence airport in Marignane on the first day of a strike by Air France stewards, France, July 27, 2016. ©Reuters

Airport sources said that Air France cancelled 150 flights in and out of Paris on Monday.

The airliner said it would maintain almost all long-haul flights and 85 percent of its medium-haul services from the main Charles de Gaulle hub but that some 10 percent of the domestic flights would be cancelled. The company also said that it would operate 90 percent of flights on Tuesday.

Talks failed on July 22 between unions representing about half of the strikers and officials from Air France as the two sides did not agree on how to renew a collective labor accord on rules, pay and promotions, which expires in October.

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