KLM attacks Air France over pilot strike

Dutch airline KLM on Thursday lashed out at its partner Air France for allowing a “destructive strike” this weekend that threatens to disrupt travel to France during the Euro 2016 football championship. KLM, which in 2004 combined with Air France to form the Air France-KLM group, said that the planned strike by French pilots will be a “major inconvenience” for customers that will “damage the reputation of the entire group”. The Dutch company added that it “hopes sincerely that [Air France and the trade unions] will arrive at a solution that prevents such a destructive strike”. Intense talks between Air France pilots’ unions and senior management appear to have broken down. Frédéric Gagey, chief executive of Air France, said that the company offered a new proposal in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, but unions rejected it. He added that the four-day walkout would cost the airline about E5m a day. Pilots have for years been resisting efforts by Air France to restore the company’s profitability through job cuts and pay freezes, objecting as well to proposals to expand the company’s low-cost operations. Air France-KLM, which reported its first profit in six years in 2015, has been under severe pressure from fast-expanding Middle East carriers including Emirates and European budget airlines such as easyJet. Jean-Marc Janaillac, who last month was named as Air France-KLM’s new CE, has been tasked with attempting to improve relations with unions while also securing reforms.<br/>