Pilot strike: Air France set to reduce week’s flights
Francois Gagey repeats the strike, which could run until Sept 22, would cost the airline between €10-15 million a day
PARIS:
Air France will reduce flights by about 50% from Monday as pilots begin a one-week strike over company plans to cut costs to recapture market share from budget airlines, its chief executive said on Saturday. Speaking to France Inter radio, Francois Gagey repeated that the strike, which could run until September 22, would cost the airline between €10-15 million a day. Europe’s second-largest traditional carrier by revenue said in early September it would move ahead with a plan to open new bases in Europe under the Transavia brand to recapture market share from low-cost carriers and Middle East rivals.”On the basis of what we have now, I think we shall only be able to operate roughly 50% of flights,” Gagey said. “The passengers will be informed and we ask them, if possible, to change their tickets to avoid this period which is a little uncertain,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2014.
Air France will reduce flights by about 50% from Monday as pilots begin a one-week strike over company plans to cut costs to recapture market share from budget airlines, its chief executive said on Saturday. Speaking to France Inter radio, Francois Gagey repeated that the strike, which could run until September 22, would cost the airline between €10-15 million a day. Europe’s second-largest traditional carrier by revenue said in early September it would move ahead with a plan to open new bases in Europe under the Transavia brand to recapture market share from low-cost carriers and Middle East rivals.”On the basis of what we have now, I think we shall only be able to operate roughly 50% of flights,” Gagey said. “The passengers will be informed and we ask them, if possible, to change their tickets to avoid this period which is a little uncertain,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2014.