Calls For An Immediate End To Pilot's Strike

Air France has offered an "immediate withdrawal" of plans to expand its low-cost Transavia airline into other European markets in an effort to end a strike by pilots which has been costing the airline millions of dollars per day.

More than half of the airline's pilots walked off the job over a week ago protesting the plans for Transavia Europe. The airline was forced to cancel about 60 percent of its flights each day, according to a report in Buying Business Travel.

Air France CEO Alexandre de Juniac issued a statement saying the Transavia project is "a 100 percent pro-France project. It is about about developing Transavia to encourage growth in France and quickly create more than 1,000 jobs in France.

“With the withdrawal of the Transavia Europe project, there is now no reason to strike because there are no longer any concerns about relocation.”

De Juniac had previously said that the expansion was critical for the airline's continued health, making it more competitive with budget airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet. Now, he says it will focus on developing Transavia France.

The airline says with the expansion program cancelled, it hopes its pilots will "return to work immediately."

The pilots' union had threatened to extend the strike indefinitely if the airline insisted on expansion outside France.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.airfrance.com