According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, it would seem that labor conditions are part of the reason why new Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith is looking to close down the experimental airline brand Joon. The decision will be put to the board of directors, but it looks like a ‘done deal' as reintegration of Joon cabin crew with Air France staff is already being discussed.
Joon's cabin crew were earning approximately 15% less than their Air France counterparts, despite having to work more hours, and the new carrier was on track to continue recruitment up to 700 cabin staff from its current level of 550. Both the SNPNC and UnsaPNC French trade unions had written to Smith airing their grievances over employment conditions with Joon.
Joon has been performing better than anticipated with a reported load factor of 90% despite its ‘difficult-to-pin-down' brand. Joon is not a traditional low-cost carrier and aimed at targeting millennial customers by making itself a more family-friendly brand through the provision of greater room for families to fly more comfortably. Only on November 19 Joon announced a new seating concept with certain four-seat rows on the Airbus A340 capable of being transformed into a cozy bed for up to two children by attaching the headrests to the bottom cushions.
With problems surrounding a number of low-cost carriers, including Monarch which ceased trading last year, plus more recently Flybe being put up for sale and the future of Iceland's WOW now looking very uncertain, Smith's intention to consolidate the existing and established Air France-KLM brand and network could be seen as a prudent move and a better use of resources. It will be interesting to watch how IAG reacts to Air France's move considering it has also recently begun operating under the LEVEL brand, one which shares many similarities with Joon.
