Air France pilots plan to step up pressure with more walkouts

Air France’s main pilot union said it’s planning more walkouts in a dispute over pay and productivity once a 4-day strike ends Tuesday, threatening to increase disruption as the summer travel season nears its peak. The carrier’s management has made no attempt to negotiate since talks about its plans to extend working hours for the same salary ceased early last week, according to the SNPL labour group. The current walkout, which began Saturday, has forced Air France to cancel about 20% of its daily flights. “It’s been absolute silence since Wednesday,” SNPL said. “There will be follow-up.” Air France said that “the door is still open for negotiation” but that executives have had to focus on operational challenges during the strike. It added that the SNPL has refused all offers of compromise. <br/>