AF pilot strike 15 September 2014

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    DavidGordon10
    Participant

    Maybe I am the only forum member caught up in this?

    The email telling me that the flight may be cancelled says I can rebook at no cost for before 15 September, or for the week after the strike, or have a voucher for a later flight. However, to arrange any of these alternatives seems impossible. It has taken abut 1.5 hours to the AF call centre without satisfactory resolution, thus far.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    DavidGordon10 –

    The AF strike is, I expect, as a result of AF’s restructing of its short-haul operations.

    Details were announced today and the piece we published on August 20, refers to the fact that AF pilots had called for a strike in September in protest at the restructuring.

    http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/100781/air-france-plans-to-restructure-short-haul-oper

    .


    canucklad
    Participant

    Just read the article above along with the comments…..

    Because of my aversion to landing in Flanders, taxing to Normandy and then getting bussed to a terminal that best resembles a “D” class celebrity –pretty to look at, but nothing inside

    With the demise of Cityjet,. I naturally assumed the AF jets that fly above my village,just west of EDI were now proper AF planes?


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    Hello canucklad – According to airfrance.co.uk those EDI-CDG flights remain operated by CityJet. I would imagine that AF now contracts out these flights to CityJet.

    According to today’s WSJ (paywall applies) the week-long strike could cost AF between Euros 10 and Euros 15 million a day.

    http://online.wsj.com/articles/air-france-to-lose-millions-daily-from-pilot-strike-1410503628


    goalie11
    Participant

    I was researching flights yesterday from EDI to BKK and one of the options that came up was with AF, departing EDI at 17.20 on 28th October.

    The details of the EDI-CDG sector were:

    Edinburgh (EDI) to Paris (CDG)
    Air France 1487 operated by HOP REGIONAL
    Economy / Coach (L)
    Embraer 190


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    Thanks for the update, goallie 11

    It would suggest AF plans to phase out CityJet on this route from the start of the winter timetable.


    MarcusGB
    Participant

    I also have a City Jet flight from LCY to AMS Monday, as i need to take an early a.m KLM world Business class to Dutch Antilles, Tues. though they no longer are owned by AF/KLM group, they continue to ply the LCY-AMS route. My booking is made on the KLM website, so all the usual plus Skyteam benefits is included. Otherwise, you would get no benefits, luggage lounge on return etc.
    I would prefer not to fly them but i need a more local airport than LHR for this trip.

    At least if they have problems BA have services and i can ensure they re-book me onto them to AMS.
    I saw a fair number of CityJet flights in n out as i passed through CDG from an Etihad flight a couple of weeks ago on Saturday.

    AF are very wasteful, and far to many doing far too little around CDG. The “Pop up lounge” end of 2E terminal, due to refurbishments, seemed to be far more for the staff to stop by n help themselves!

    The flight to LHR A321, ws in a poor tatty state, still with cigarette trays in the seat arms, which might i add, actually had chewing gum in one, the mouldy food in the other, clumpy old heavy seats.

    They really drag profitable KLM back these days. Be food to see their account separated. The staff are all so un-interested compared to KLM ground and in the air, which is why i avoid them. Also had bad experiences of numerous issues on AF flights.

    Sooner they get rid of these staff the better.
    The AF/KLM group really drags down by AF. Sooner they clear it out the better from my point of view.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    Reuters reports that Air France expects to run 40 per cent of its flights when the strike starts tomorrow (Monday September 15).

    But no details of those flights which are expected to operate have yet been made available.

    http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/13/uk-airfrance-strike-idUKKBN0H80A820140913


    ImissConcorde
    Participant

    So who is running the show here?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29309899


    AnthonyDunn
    Participant

    ImissConcorde – 22/09/2014 11:02 GMT

    Anyone with any longer-term experience of France, French politics and the French economy knows that on the one hand, the French are crying out for something to bring the country out of its gridlock. But whenever anyone tries to do anything – because this invariably means standing on someone’s toes – the standard response is to cry foul.

    The classic example is the heavily unionised railways whose staff enjoy excellent pay, pensions and privileges including the ability to retire at a relatively young age. This is being paid for by all French taxpayers and rail users. But rather than see that they are being gouged by the unions, most French people absolutely defend such privileges. Unless and until the French are prepared to face up to the consequences of facing both ways at the same time, nothing but nothing is going to change. So the unions will continue to call the tune.


    AnthonyDunn
    Participant

    From today’s Financial Times:

    Air France-KLM has dropped plans to develop its low-cost airline across Europe in a major concession aimed at ending a crippling, 11-day pilots’ strike in France that has cost the Franco-Dutch group some €200m to date.

    The move, announced on Thursday, prompted a renewal of negotiations with the pilots, but their unions said the strike – which the company and the Socialist government have warned threatened the future of Air France – would continue pending the outcome of the talks. More than half of Air France flights have been cancelled during the strike, the worst to hit the airline for 16 years. Confirming a decision flagged on Wednesday by the French government, which holds a 16 per cent stake in Air France-KLM, the group announced the “immediate withdrawal” of a project to expand its low-cost carrier Transavia beyond France and the Netherlands. Air France-KLM shares were up 1.6 per cent at €7.72 in mid-morning trading following the news.

    The unions have objected to what they see as a risk of the relocation of jobs from France to other European centres and the lower wages offered by Transavia. Air France-KLM has some of the highest staff costs among European carriers and is struggling to fend off competition from budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair. It said it would concentrate its development of Transavia in France “in competitive economic conditions and accompanied by the safeguards [for staff] as discussed in the negotiations so far”.

    Air France-KLM chief executive Alexandre de Juniac and Frédéric Gagey, head of the Air France unit, added in a joint statement: “It is about developing Transavia to encourage growth in France and quickly create more than 1,000 jobs in France (including 250 pilot jobs). “With the withdrawal of the Transavia Europe project, there is now no reason to strike because there are no longer any concerns about relocation. We therefore call on the striking pilots to return to work immediately.” The SNPL union, the biggest of two pilots’ unions on strike at Air France, said it had submitted counter proposals to management. “Both sides want to reach a conclusion as quickly as possible,” a spokesman said.

    Mr de Juniac had previously placed heavy emphasis on the importance of expanding Transavia, looking to double its fleet in size and extend its operations outside Air France-KLM’s home countries. Building up its low-cost operations is a key element in his five-year “Perform 2020” strategic plan to return the airline to stable profitability. “The idea is to be in the leading group of European low-cost carriers, given that aviation is a business where size is important,” Mr de Juniac said in July. Air France-KLM has slashed operating costs by €2bn over the past three years and also has further cost savings in the pipeline.

    Prime Minister Manuel Valls earlier this week called for an end to the strike, apparently siding with management as he said it was “not understood” by the French people, and damaged the image of France. But Alain Vidalies, transport minister, called for the withdrawal of the Transavia Europe plan, saying it had not been fully thought through. ENDS

    Who would want to be a senior executive of a major French concern where any decision regarding employment numbers is subject to direct political intervention and second-guessing by the French government?


    MarcusGB
    Participant

    I feel very sad for the staff Teams at KLM, run in a very different manner to that of AF. The whole management attitude and philosophy is different, and KLM actually had been running in profit, whilst keeping excellent standards. They Prop Up AF with their hard innovative ideas and changes. and it just gets lost in the overall Group’s accounting.

    There is a completely different culture within each Airline, that you can see and feel when you fly with either. AF flights I see quite un-enthusiastic, indignant staff, too many on the ground that do very little at CDG. Many of the Airbus A319, A320, A321’s appear old, poorly cleaned, poor maintaining inside of the aircraft, and a General minimum effort, cannot be bothered attitude on board.
    But every European Airline is fighting hard to keep ahead, and retain their share of the network, with the Low Cost and Flooded market..

    This strike, is resulting in such “self harm” to its finances, adding poor reputation and un-reliability, and is self defeating. It is also selfish to colleagues to manipulate the Airline in such a way, that it prevents them from working, and jeopardises their future employment of everybody, even further.

    KLM are completely the opposite and it is a sorry sight to see AF dragging down the reputation of The Group, and giving SkyTeam Alliance a poor and damaging image in addition.

    It is really about time, that the two Airlines accounting, divided the results from each Airline as compared to “The Group”. Let’s really see who drags the whole Group down, and let the KLM side shine for all the good efforts made within it. Then where there are losses or inefficiency, it can be deal with at source.

    AF pilots despite their grievances valid or not, are destroying the changes made, after a slow but sure climb to greater efficiency in the last 3 years. I am pleased I sold my shares when they were at Euros 11.20 each some months back!
    There must be a lot of anger from within the Group, and between the two Airlines and differing staff groups, when most of Airline is brought to a complete halt, and places its future at risk.

    I am sure few are booking AF flights without serious re-consideration with such conflict and uncertainty at this moment in time. Then there will be less work for the pilots, who strike, crippling the finances, share values dropping.The Low Cost carriers are doing very well out of this strike, and they may well have taken a greater AF market share when they start to fly again.
    It maybe a share they will not get back, and result in the need of even less staff and further cut backs.

    It is a very difficult Airline Industry these days in Europe, with fierce competition from The Low Cost Airlines, (as in Asia, and Australia also) especially for Legacy Airlines. Change is a must, and better to be involved and realistic part of it, than have it forced upon you.

    Being defeated by other Airlines is bad enough, but being defeated by your own staff from within, really is implosive, and places AF future at great risk.


    AMcWhirter
    Participant

    According to Les Echos the strike is estimated to have cost AF some US$250 million.

    AF is likely to be unprofitable for the sixth consecutive year.

    http://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/tourisme-transport/0203807195291-la-greve-dair-france-risque-davoir-un-impact-durable-1046691.php?xtor=RSS-2065


    MarcusGB
    Participant

    Great Pity, and the AF Pilots action is likely to have ruined KLM’s excellent efforts, now running at a profit.
    Perhaps it is time to show where the groups losses routes are, and discontinue them, taking the jobs with it. This will have a great affect on Shareholders that have stood by the group to huge losses themselves.

    It seems that the Pilots maybe finding not transfers to Transavia or , less pay, but no suitable future for them in The Company at all. Many more routes will have to go low cost in Europe, that is the reality.

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