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Air France pilot representatives are calling for a broad cockpit work stoppage in protest, ironically, over a government bill which aims to limit the right to strike in the transport sector. The proposal is set to be debated in the Senate, the upper house of the French parliament, on 9 April. According to the syndicate of Air France pilots, SPAF, the right to strike could be prohibited over fixed periods, up to 60 days per year. SPAF argues that the proposal deliberately confuses public transport and public service, and would “relegate” the country to an authoritarian state. “The right to strike is often the last resort for employees of transport companies,” it adds. SPAF says it “cannot accept” the measure and is calling on all pilots operating under French contracts to stop work on 15-16 April.<br/>

Garuda Indonesia has announced a plan to expand its fleet by eight aircraft, including the Boeing 737-800 NG, Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300, for delivery throughout 2024 to operate a fleet of 80 total aircraft by the end of the year. Garuda Indonesia president director Irfan Setiaputra said on Tuesday that adding the extra aircraft aimed to maximise the airline’s occupancy rate and improve its network of both domestic and international routes, Antara reported. Irfan revealed the flag carrier operated 145,500 flights in 2023, an increase of 38% from the previous year’s figure. The state-owned airline reported revenue of US$2.94bil last year, up 40% from the 2022, according to news site Liputan6.com. The company attributed last year’s revenue growth to a 41% year-on-year sales increase in scheduled flights to US$2.37bil, due to increased demand for air travel after the coronavirus pandemic, while sales grew 52% for passenger-only scheduled flights. Earlier on March 7, Irfan said sports events and concerts had helped boost Garuda’s ticket sales. He noted that American pop star Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore had propelled a 30% rise in passenger volume for flights to the city-state.<br/>