Paris increases pressure to end pilots' strike

[PARIS] The French government made a renewed appeal on Monday for a quick end to an Air France pilots strike which is costing the flag-carrier millions of euros a day, urging management to "clarify" its proposals.

The strike over the airline's plans to establish low-cost activities is entering its second week and is set to be the longest such industrial action in its history. The main SNPL union has extended strike action to Sept 26 and a second union, SPAF, to Sept 24 with an option to extend further.

"Service must resume right now, that's what the country wants and all those involved must understand that," Jean-Marie Le Guen, minister in charge of relations with parliament, said before new talks on Monday between unions and management. "Very quickly, the management must make a certain number of clarifications on their proposals."