New Air France low-cost subsidiary airline agreement submitted to unions

With the majority of Air France pilots voting in favor of the creation of a new low-cost airline back in February, subsequent negotiations with the pilots and their main union, SNPL, have resulted in the submission of a draft global agreement which is open for signature until May 31.
Known as the Boost project and forming part of the Trust Together strategic project which was unveiled in November last year, Air France hopes to create a new low-cost airline to make it more competitive. The principal features of the agreement include:
• The limiting of the new airline fleet to 18 medium-haul aircraft and 10 long-haul aircraft
• All flights to be operated by Air France pilots
• The airline will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air France
As an additional part of the agreement and to further enable Air France to be more competitive, on the economic front there will be one less rest day for pilots on medium-haul flights. However, a reduction in the night shift bonus will not be implemented.
The agreement also includes a number of measures which relate specifically to the training and activity of pilots.
According to Jean-Marc Janaillac, Chairman Air France, “This draft agreement is a positive, ambitious and balanced compromise, which enables us to settle a large number of major topics which have been under discussion between Air France and its pilots for several years. It will allow the company to move forward, thanks in particular to the creation of the new airline this autumn. We have all followed our convictions through to the end in these negotiations, and we must now all take responsibility: what is at stake is Air France’s future and its ability to embark on a new phase of sustainable growth and recovery.”