Air France offers pilots flexibility in new bid to win pay deal

[PARIS] Air France made a fresh proposal to its SNPL pilot union that calls on crews to work hours that are 5 to 10 per cent longer for the same overall pay, while offering what the carrier said would amount to greater flexibility during busy periods.

Frederic Gagey, chief executive officer of Air France-KLM Group's French unit, and Gilles Gateau, its director of human resources, extended a "compromise offer" at a meeting Sunday, setting a May 2 deadline for a response, the two men said in a phone briefing on Monday.

Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac said last week he was leaving after after almost three years of wrangling with pilots over cost cuts. He said then that the company must press on with restructuring plans if it's too compete with low-cost carriers such as EasyJet Plc in Europe and Gulf operators led by Emirates on long-haul routes.

BLOOMBERG