Transport

Air France pilots to strike

13 Feb, 2014

Air France pilots are threatening a strike from 22-25 February – a school holiday period – in protest against possible transfer of pilots to the low-cost company Transavia.

The pilots’ union is afraid that Air France is planning to off-load its medium-haul routes to Transavia, which operates mainly out of Orly. Both Air France and partner KLM have said that they want to develop the low-cost airline in the next few years and are planning more routes out of Orly.

The union claims that Air France is hoping to transfer up to six aircraft to Transavia, plus the necessary crews.

Transavia is a Dutch low-cost airline operating as an independent part of Air France-KLM. It is headquartered at Schipol, with hubs at Rotterdam and Einhoven. Paris is a base for the airline.

At present Transavia operates 34 Boeing aircraft and is leasing two new Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2015 and 2016.