Air France Archives - Iran News Daily

Air France, British Airways to end flights to Tehran

reporter 1222 — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 07:50:07 +0000

Air France and British Airways announced Thursday that they will halt flights to Tehran next month, citing low profitability as the US reimposes sanctions on Iran.

Air France, which had run connections to the Iranian capital via its low-cost operator Joon, said it would axe the route on September 18, blaming “poor commercial viability”.

The French carrier had already cut down on its Paris to Tehran connections from three a week to just one earlier this month, its communications service said.

British Airways had announced shortly earlier that it was axeing its London to Tehran service as it was “currently not commercially viable”.

The last outbound flight to Tehran will be on September 22, and the last inbound flight from Tehran will be on September 23, the British flag-carrier added.

AFP/File / Ben STANSALL“We are suspending our London to Tehran service as the operation is currently not commercially viable,” British Airways said

British Airways said its decision was unrelated to US President Donald Trump’s imposition of new sanctions on Iran, which has affected foreign businesses operating in the country, with many pulling out altogether.

Dutch carrier KLM said last month that it was also suspending Tehran flights due to “negative results and financial outlook”.

The airline said it was in discussions with partner airlines to offer customers rebooking options, or would offer full refunds.

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Air France shares down nearly 13 percent after CEO quits

reporter 1222 — Mon, 07 May 2018 08:40:42 +0000

Air France shares went into a tailspin on the Paris stock exchange on Monday after the resignation of the strike-hit company’s CEO.

Air France-KLM boss Jean-Marc Janaillac announced his resignation Friday after staff at the carrier’s French operations rejected a pay deal aimed at ending months of walkouts.

Janaillac, who had been in the post for under two years and staked his future at the company on staff accepting the deal, deplored their decision as a “huge waste”.

In early bourse business Air France stock was down nearly 13 percent at 7.08 euros.

Staff and management at the carrier have been locked in a dispute over pay since February.

Intermittent strikes in recent weeks have prompted the cancellation of a quarter of flights on average.

Unionised staff are set to walk out for the 14th day on Monday as they press for a 5.1-percent salary increase this year as the company recovers from years of losses and restructuring.

France’s economy minister on Sunday warned that the survival of Air France was now in the balance.

“I call on everyone to be responsible: crew, ground staff, and pilots who are asking for unjustified pay hikes,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire told the BFM news channel.

“Be responsible. The survival of Air France is in the balance,” he added.

He warned that the state, which owns 14.3 percent of the group, would not serve as a backstop.

“Air France will disappear if it does not make the necessary efforts to be competitive,” he warned.

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Air France cancels 30 percent of flights amid strikes

reporter 1222 — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 09:40:54 +0000

French flag carrier Air France has announced massive flight cancellations due to strikes by cabin crews and ground staff for the fifth straight day over pay.

Air France announced on Friday that nearly 30 percent of its flights would be canceled across the country on Saturday.

The cancellation rate is believed to be the biggest during any Air France walkouts so far.

One-quarter of long-haul flights into and out of Paris will be cancelled. So will 35 percent of medium-distance flights at the capital’s Charles de Gaulle airport. Air France also announced that 30 percent of regional flights at Orly airport in Paris and other French cities will be cancelled.

Personnel have been demanding a pay raise. Executives, troubled by the strikes and resultant losses, have nevertheless remained defiant.

Jean-Marc Janaillac, the chief executive of parent company Air France-KLM said on Friday that the demanded six-percent pay raise would not be possible, adding that the strikes had already cost Air France 25 million euros per day.

Janaillac also claimed that despite an operating profit of 600 million euros last year, the airliner’s profit margin was only four percent, “the lowest of all European airlines.”

Authorities have offered a one-percent increase.

Labor unions, however, insist that workers deserve to benefit from years of belt-tightening measures by Air France that have brought the airliner back to operating profitability, after enduring effective wage freeze since 2011.

“We’ve been doing our part for years,” said Gregoire Aplincourt of the Spaf union, the second-largest among Air France pilots. “What we’re saying now is, ‘Invest in your employees.’”

Unions have called for further strikes for April 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, and 24.

The industrial action by Air France personnel comes amid persisting rolling strikes by rail workers at state-owned SNCF railways, as well as protests by students, public servants, energy workers, and garbage collectors.

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