Will Continue Labor Action Until September 26th

A majority of Air France pilots have voted to extend their labor action for an additional four days, through September 26th, and union leaders say it could go on even longer based on the strength of the vote.

About 74 percent of the striking pilots said the walkout should go on past the initial deadline, according to a report from Reuters.

The labor action began a week ago over cost-cutting on the part of Air France, as well as plans for a new carrier called Transavia. Over the weekend, Air France said about 45 percent of its flights operated normally on Saturday, and about 38 percent on Sunday.

The primary issue for the pilots is Air France's plan to expand the Transavia low-cost unit of its business, and set up bases in countries other than France as it tries to compete with other low-cost airlines. The union said it was concerned that Air France would abandon Transavia in France entirely, blame that on the pilots, and then continue the expansion outside the country.

SNPL pilot's union Air France leader Jean-Louis Barber, has called for a meeting with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to help resolve the conflict with management. Air France said the walkout is costing the airline as much as $19 million each day. The airline said in a statement after the strike was extended that it has made what it calls "concrete proposals" to the union, but those proposals "have not yet drawn a reasonable response."

FMI: www.snpl.com, http://corporate.airfrance.com/