Korean Air is expected to grapple with a high debt-to-equity ratio in the near future, as a series of owner family-centric scandals would freeze investor sentiment of the company in the stock market. Sunday, stock market analysts say its debt-to-equity ratio may increase to 700% by this year from the 542% last year, because of its ways of attracting capital from the market. The one thing that makes the current situation even worse for the carrier is that its tarnished image is expected to lead to additional difficulties keeping its net cash flow stable. Over the past 3 years, Korean Air attracted US$928m through the increases of its capital stocks in 2015 and 2017, as well as obtaining an additional $600m through the issues of hybrid bonds in the same years. <br/>
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In the first year of his presidency, Emmanuel Macron has pushed business-friendly labour laws through Parliament, made it easier for companies to hire and fire, cut the wealth tax and decentralised collective bargaining. Through it all, France’s most militant unions have resisted. His changes, which set out to reshape the way France’s economy and society work, are now facing increasing pushback from labour groups. Unions representing Air France-KLM staff Monday called for new strikes after rejecting a pay proposal. While Macron’s economic changes do not take aim at the nation’s flagship air carrier, his administration has inserted itself directly into the fight, warning labour leaders that they risked driving Air France to the brink of calamity. <br/>
Air France plans to operate 80% of its flights Tuesday May 8, the 15th in a series of day-long strikes over pay that has rocked the carrier and led to the resignation of Air France-KLM group CE Jean-Marc Janaillac after employees voted against his pay proposal plan. The carrier said 95% of long-haul flights would go ahead May 8, with 75% of medium-haul flights to and from its Paris Charles de Gaulle hub operating, as well as 82% of short-haul flights. The proportion of striking workers was smaller than for previous strikes, with 14.2% of pilots, 17.8% of cabin crew and 2.9% of ground staff taking part. Air France said flights for May 7, also a strike day, were operating as forecast. It had predicted 85% of flights would operate: 99% of long-haul, 80% of medium-haul to and from Charles de Gaulle and 87% of short-haul. <br/>