Air France strike: Half of flights to be scrapped Monday

[Blue_Tires]

Source: www.france24.com

Air France has said it will be forced to scrap more than half of its scheduled flights on Monday as a week-long pilots' strike begins over the French flag carrier’s plans to develop its low-cost subsidiary.

"We expect to be able to run 48 percent of our flights" with roughly 60 percent of pilots downing tools, Air France's director of operations Catherine Jude said on Sunday.

That forecast was slightly better than one given the day before by Chief Executive Frédéric Gagey, who said the airline would only be able to guarantee 40 percent of flights on Monday.

However, the transport situation could worsen on Tuesday and Wednesday as the pilots who worked on Monday would have to take their legally stipulated rest, unions warned.

The company said: "If the strike continues beyond September 15, the flight schedule will be modified as a result. The knock-on effects will be communicated to passengers the day before they are due to leave."

Pilots’ union SNLP has called for the week-long strike, which would be the longest at the company since 1998, over Air France’s plans to significantly expand its low-cost offerings to passengers through its Transavia budget airline.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20140914-air-france-strike-half-flights-be-scrapped-monday/

[quadrature]

1. avoid France during the strike season ...

bad juju

[cosmicone]

2. Why can't Air France expand its low-cost subsidiary?

This is how unions gradually lost their power.

I am scheduled to fly tomorrow to Paris for a meeting and when I found this had nothing to do with the pilots' wages or working conditions but business expansion into lower cost tickets, I lost respect for the union.

Don't they get that the public wants lower fares and if Air France doesn't invest in the space, someone else will anyway?

I for one am sick and tired of paying BA, AF and LH outrageous fares and lousy service. Emirates and Singapore Airlines provide better service for 30-40% less.

[mnhtnbb]

3. Looks like Lufthansa pilots are going out tomorrow

At Lufthansa, which has suffered a series of one- and three-day strikes over retirement benefits this year, pilots flying long-haul aircraft from Frankfurt will halt work tomorrow.



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-14/air-france-braces-for-worst-strike-in-16-years-over-pilot-terms.html