A work stoppage by a majority of Air France pilots went into its second week here Monday, with a threat of more disruptions to come as the pilots say they will stay off the job until Friday, unions and airline statements indicated.
Air France management has warned through media statements that the meagre profitability at the recently-revamped airline was at risk and it would lose tens of millions of Euros in lost business every day and suffer damage to the relatively good reputation of France's national flag carrier.
The cost of the strike per day to Air France is estimated at close to USD 20 million (around Euros 15 million) and some are questioning if the airline can survive much more of this strike without government subsidies, which are illegal under European Union rules.
The pilots, mainly from the National Syndicate of Airline Pilots (SNPL), are on strike to protest the creation and the salary grids for an Air France, low-cost affiliate, "Transavia," which they say could affect their working conditions and pay conditions and drag down the average pay in the company. Pilots at Transavia are paid considerably less than those at Air France.
The resultant industrial action has taken around 60 percent of flights of the grid, according to Air France statements, but pilots say that around 85 percent of flights have been affected on some days.
With no sign of a breakthrough, the SNPL has called on public television for a meeting with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who is against the strike and warned of the impact it will have on Air France. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of passengers have to scrabble every day to seek alternate carriers or modes of transport to their destinations.
GMT 13:21 2018 Thursday ,06 December
China demands Canada release Huawei's chief financial officerGMT 16:21 2018 Monday ,12 November
EU-Egypt partnership agreement to be fully applied in 2019GMT 18:24 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
French court throws out tax fraud case against JP MorganGMT 16:09 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Strikes as Greece adopts industrial action revampGMT 14:08 2018 Friday ,12 January
Time over money? German union champions 28-hour work weekGMT 13:27 2018 Tuesday ,09 January
German metalworkers start strikes for 28-hour weekGMT 14:49 2018 Friday ,05 January
Lithuanian doctors rally for pay rise to halt exodusGMT 09:03 2017 Friday ,29 December
Watchdog slams Lufthansa over 'algorithm' price hikesMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor