Air France pilot strike threatens to disrupt soccer tournament

Air France’s pilots are escalating a long-running contract dispute by threatening to disrupt travel with an extended strike just as France prepares to host the European soccer championship that starts in mid-June. The airline’s main pilot union, the SNPL, said 68% of those participating in a work-stoppage ballot voted Monday in favour of a walkout exceeding six days to protest the airline’s plans to cut pay. Of the carrier’s 3,600 pilots, 2,500 belong to the SNPL. The SNPL didn’t specify any dates for a strike, and talks in the dispute continue. The UEFA European Championship is scheduled to take place in France from June 10 through July 10. The conflict is reminiscent of a dispute in 1998, when pilots at the airline halted work for eight days just ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament in France. The carrier declined to comment on Monday’s vote, beyond estimating that 1,360 pilots might take part in a walkout. <br/>