Around 35 percent of flight attendants for Air France are expected to join a week-long strike that will force the airline to cancel 30 percent of its domestic and medium-haul flights, The Guardian reports.
According to a statement on the Air France website, the airline expects its flight schedule to be disrupted through August 2. For July 27, the airline plans to operate more than 90 percent of its long-haul flights, 90 percent of its domestic flights, and more than 80 percent of its medium-haul flights to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle. Travelers, however, should expect last-minute cancellations and delays.
Over the next few days, Air France said it plans to adapt its schedule and publish it the day before departure. Customers affected by a cancellation will be informed the day before departure.
Air France flights operated by an aircraft of other airlines, including HOP!, KLM and Delta, are not affected by this strike.
Flight Change Policy
Travelers with a trip booked between July 27 and August 2 can postpone their trip to a later date from August 3 through 12 at no extra cost in the same class of travel. Travelers can also postpone their trip beyond August 12, change their origin or destination, or receive a non-refundable voucher valid for one year on Air France, KLM or Hop!.
Background
The strike is over an accord setting rules for work, pay and promotions set to expire this October, The Local reports. Management had proposed extending the accord 17 months, while unions are calling for an extension of between three and five years.
The strike comes as Air France-KLM is warning about the impact of recent terrorist attacks on travel to France. According to the BBC, the airline group reported a 5 percent fall in revenue compared with the same period last year, although operating profit rose 138 percent, partly because of lower fuel costs.
"The global context in 2016 remains highly uncertain... resulting in an increasing pressure on unit revenues and a special concern about France as a destination," the airline told the BBC.
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