Air France could see 2,900 job cuts, fewer long-haul flights: unions

PARIS: Air France on Friday unveiled details of its alternative restructuring plan, including 2,900 job cuts, retiring 14 long-haul planes and reducing flights, union officials said.

Air France-KLM's management on Thursday gave a green light to an alternative restructuring plan after negotiations with its pilots' union on a cost savings plan failed.

"The number of jobs eliminated will be 300 pilots, 700 flight attendants and 1,900 ground personnel," one union official said.

Read: Air France under fire for omitting Israel from map

It could amount to the first forced departures of staff in the history of the former national airline, in which the state still holds a 17.6 percent stake.

Another source on the airline group's board, which was meeting Friday, said the 2,900 figure had been presented as an estimate of overstaffing in 2017.

"These points were presented to the board for information, but no vote has been taken," added Didier Dague of the FO union.

The airline management declined to comment on the plans, saying details will be presented ot the central company works committee on Monday.

Read: Following threats, fighter jets escort Air France flight to New York

Didier Fauverte of the CGT union said Air France's restructuring plan would also include retiring five long-haul planes next summer and nine others in 2017.

The plan will also include "a reduction in the frequency and capacity" of certain destinations on the long-haul network, half of which are currently loss-making according to management, he said.

Air France has indicated for several weeks that it would reduce its long-haul flights by 10 percent if talks with the pilots' unions failed.

At the end of June, the long-haul fleet consisted of 107 aircraft.