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In a statement, Europe's second-largest network
carrier said a union demand that pilots hired by the low-cost
arm Transavia should get full Air France pilot pay and
conditions "totally opposes the principles of this model."
"The board has confirmed that the company can only develop under
economic conditions that are compatible with the low-cost
model," Air France said in a statement which noted management
had the board's "full support".
Chief executive Alexandre de Juniac is under severe pressure to
bring an end to the strike, which has grounded over half his
company's flights and is costing up to 20 million euros ($25.5
million a day.
He ceded ground this week, first postponing plans to have
Transavia hubs outside France employing staff on local
conditions, then, under public pressure from the government,
abandoning those plans completely.
Pilots are still holding out for a single contract. Talks with
the unions are due to resume on Friday afternoon, spokesmen from
Air France and the main pilots' union SNPL said on Friday.
The government is a 16 percent shareholder in the group and sits
on the board. A transport ministry official declined on Friday
to comment but referred back to a call made on Wednesday by
Transport Minister Alain Vidalies for the strike to end.
(Reporting by Andrew Callus and Gregory Blachier; Editing by
Mark John)
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