Air France’s new Chief Executive, Ben Smith, has wasted no time in tackling the wage negotiation problem that has beleaguered the French carrier and seen the downfall of its previous Chief Executive, Jean-Marc Janaillac, who resigned back in May. Having previously worked with Air Canada, Smith has proposed a two percent pay raise backdated to January this year, coupled with a further two percent next January, according to a union official.
Air France are keen to end the raft of damaging strikes which have impacted heavily on its finances, strikes in 2018 alone amounting to some €355 million (US$384 million) while grounding hundreds of flights.
While the pilots’ union may well respond as soon as Tuesday, October 9, SNLP also expects a further pay review to take place this month. According to an Air France spokesperson: “These were discussions with (our) social partners and not negotiations,” and has refused to pass further comment on the matter.
Smith, who only joined Air France last month has taken over direct leadership of the Air France business from the carrier’s departing managing director Franck Terner, while last week the carrier announced the appointment of another Air Canada veteran, Oltion Carkaxhija, to a vice-president role including oversight of labor negotiations.
