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The next CE of Air-France-KLM must not be beholden to external interests, said a senior French pilot on the group's board of directors, criticising the possible choice of Air Canada's COO as preferred candidate. Le Monde this week reported that Air France-KLM's nominations committee had picked Canadian Benjamin Smith as its top candidate to head the airline at a time the French brand, Air France, is struggling to cut costs amid union opposition. The group has not denied Smith is a candidate, saying only that no decision has been made yet. Air Canada has made no comment. "It might be useful to say what Air France does not need: enough with candidates who are ambassadors for external interests," Paul Farges, a board director representing employee shareholders, wrote in a Sunday newspaper. <br/>

The main pilot union of Air France has threatened to go on strike again in September if the new management of the company does not resume negotiations on the matter. The president of the organisation, Philippe Evain, warned Sunday they are prepared to undertake a 15-day strike if their demands are not heard. From February to June, the company’s unions carried out a broad mobilisation which led to the resignation of the then general manager, Jean-Marc Janaillac. The aim of the movement is to demand a 5.1% wage increase this year, taking into account wages frozen since 2011 as a result of the crisis. Air France is currently in the process of hiring a new manager and has decided to triple its salary in order to attract candidates, which has not been well received by the workers. <br/>