Air France says strikes cost company €170 million

Air France said on Tuesday that seven day-long strikes since February by workers demanding higher pay are set to cost it 170 million euros.

Air France check-in at Bordeaux-Merignac airport as pilots, cabin and ground crews unions call for a strike over salaries, April 7, 2018 Reuters/Regis Duvignau

"The impact on Air France operating income of the seven days of strike between 22 February and 11 April, 2018 is estimated around 170 million euros," the group said.

The estimate was contained in a statement on the passenger numbers of Air France-KLM, which said they had increased by 5.4 percent in March.

The walkouts were set to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, for a total of seven days since the strikes began in February.

1 flight out of 4 to be cancelled

In another statement, Air France said one flight out of four would be cancelled on Tuesday, as the operator urged customers with reservations for the day to postpone their trips.

The flight schedule for Wednesday was set to be updated later Tuesday. Further strikes are planned on 17, 18, 23 and 24 April.

Unions say workers deserve to benefit from years of belt-tightening that have brought the carrier back to operating profitability, after seeing their wages effectively frozen since 2011.

The industrial action at Air France, where the French government owns a minority stake, coincides with rolling strikes by workers at the state rail operator SNCF, as well as protests by students, public servants, energy workers and rubbish collectors.

The SNCF said Monday that the strikes against plans to overhaul the debt-laden company had already cost it around 100 million euros.

Although the various protests have different aims, they have created a general atmosphere of social discontent as President Emmanuel Macron pursues his ambitious reform drive.

(with AFP)