Air France pilots bristle at prospect of a having a Dutch CE

Air France pilots said they’re concerned Paris would lose out to Amsterdam if KLM unit chief Pieter Elbers becomes the first Dutch head of Air France-KLM, throwing up another obstacle in the search for a permanent CE. Elbers has emerged as a serious contender to take the top job at the parent company after the French govt, its biggest shareholder, signalled its willingness to hire someone who isn’t French. A long-time KLM executive, Elbers has led the smaller, more profitable Dutch arm since 2014. By many measures, Elbers is a solid candidate. He’s even earned praise from IAG CE Willie Walsh, who called his Dutch rival one of the best leaders in the industry. Yet the situation is messy. “It would be a big issue” if Elbers were chosen, Air France’s main pilots union said Thursday. <br/>