Air France strike goes into second week with more to come

PARIS, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- A work stoppage by a majority of Air France pilots went into its second week here Monday, with a threat of more disruptions to come as the pilots say they will stay off the job until Friday, unions and airline statements indicated.
Air France management has warned through media statements that the meagre profitability at the recently-revamped airline was at risk and it would lose tens of millions of Euros in lost business every day and suffer damage to the relatively good reputation of France's national flag carrier.
The cost of the strike per day to Air France is estimated at close to USD 20 million (around Euros 15 million) and some are questioning if the airline can survive much more of this strike without government subsidies, which are illegal under European Union rules.
The pilots, mainly from the National Syndicate of Airline Pilots (SNPL), are on strike to protest the creation and the salary grids for an Air France, low-cost affiliate, "Transavia," which they say could affect their working conditions and pay conditions and drag down the average pay in the company. Pilots at Transavia are paid considerably less than those at Air France.
The resultant industrial action has taken around 60 percent of flights of the grid, according to Air France statements, but pilots say that around 85 percent of flights have been affected on some days.
With no sign of a breakthrough, the SNPL has called on public television for a meeting with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who is against the strike and warned of the impact it will have on Air France. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of passengers have to scrabble every day to seek alternate carriers or modes of transport to their destinations. (end) jk.rk