Air France-KLM is scrambling to find a new top boss. The future recruit would be charged with resolving a bitter labour dispute, healing deep divisions between the carrier’s French and Dutch arms and improving profitability -- all on a salary that lags far behind peers. Even stripping away incentives and benefits, Air France-KLM paid its top executive a lower base salary last year than rivals. The board wants the new CE on board by July to replace Jean-Marc Janaillac, who last month became a casualty of the strikes. Workers are demanding a pay increase, something the airline likely can’t offer any leader poached from a European competitor. One possible contender being considered by directors is the head of Dutch arm KLM, Pieter Elbers. <br/>
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Accor is pressing ahead with plans to buy a stake in France-KLM, approaching European investors to ask them to team up with the French hotelier, said people familiar with the situation. The search for regional partners is in part to address any concerns that Accor could breach EU aviation regulations, which demand that European airlines must have at least 50% of their capital owned by European investors in order to secure their right to fly. At least a quarter of Accor’s capital is owned by non-European investors, which could prove to be an issue in buying a stake in the French airline, said one person with knowledge of the situation. European investors could ease any concerns about the extent of overseas ownership of the stake. <br/>
CE Ed Bastian knew his company could face a backlash over its decision to cut ties with the NRA. But he said the "divisive rhetoric" coming out of the organisation in the wake of the mass shooting earlier this year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., made his decision "crystal clear." "At Delta, our values are everything," Bastian said Tuesday. In fact, Bastian was so certain about the decision that he didn't give his board a heads up. "The board read about it as everyone else did the next morning," he said, adding that he “got nothing but support" from his directors. Bastian made the decision despite a US$40m tax exemption pending with the Georgia state legislature, which killed the tax break as a result. “We were not going to be moved by it,” he said. “From an investor stand point, the most important asset we have on balance is our culture.” <br/>
With a month to go before the world’s major airlines must comply with Beijing’s order to recognise Taiwan as part of China, US carriers risk flying fewer mainland passengers by staying defiant. While Japan Airlines, ANA and Qantas Airways have changed how they described Taiwan on their websites, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines are among the last few standing, calling the island a region or country. They could face measures such as air-traffic control delays, ramp inspections, hold-ups at immigration and security checks. Delta and American Airlines, which have until July 25 to fall in line on the Taiwan issue, say they are consulting with the US govt even as the White House dismissed the order as “Orwellian nonsense.” <br/>