Air France Stalls Transavia Roll Out

Something had to give, as Air France’s pilot strike entered its second week, at a cost of 20 million euros a day.

Today Alexandre de Juniac, Frédéric Gagey and the group’s managerial teams were the parties to yield – at least partially – as they announced it would postpone plans to create Transavia low-cost subsidiaries in Europe (outside France and the Netherlands).

The move is designed to get planes in the air again after unions talks had reached deadlock. Today Air France anticipates operating 42 per cent of flights, marginally more than yesterday.

The management is sticking to its guns though, asserting that Air France-KLM’s development in the low-cost market in Europe “is both strategic and urgent” for the Group’s future. De Juniac reaffirmed that it still anticipates a fleet of more than 100 Transavia aircraft by 2017.

Air France pilots are amongst the highest paid in Europe, hence their objection to a new low-cost, short-haul carrier.

The airline recommends passengers with reservations until September 26 to postpone their trip or change their ticket at no extra cost.