Pilots' Union Still Has No Firm Deal With The Carrier

The union representing Air France pilots has ended its 14-day strike against the airline that the prime minister of France described as a "selfish" walkout.

The pilots had walked off the job to protest plans by Air France to expand its low-cost Transavia carrier into non-French markets. The union said it was not opposed to the expansion per se, but had concerns that the labor conditions outlined with the proposal would erode job security and reduce the number of jobs for French pilots. The strike reportedly cost the airline about $19 million per day.

Last week, Air France said it was scrapping its plans to expand Transavia, and called on the pilots to immediately go back to work. The New York Times reports that while the two sides held a 15-hour negotiating session over the weekend, there is still no firm agreement between the airline and the SNPL union. However, the union said that the strike is "not an end in itself" and that pilots would go back to work in the interests of the company and the passengers.

Air France-KLM said that it would be bringing flights back online "incrementally," and hoped to be back to a full schedule late this week.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.transavia.com