Massive Flight Cancellations as Air France Pilots Go on Strike

A weeklong workers strike that began Monday has caused Air France to cancel over half of all its flights, as pilots protest cost-cutting measures.

Six out of 10 flights were canceled, Reuters reports, with similar cancellations expected in the days to come. Pilots are striking to protest the airline’s expansion of its low-cost operations.

Air France announced last week a plan to move much of its operations in Europe to the company’s cheaper subsidiary, Transavia, and base some flights out of foreign countries to save approximately $1.3 billion, the Associated Press reports. Pilots claim the airline is moving jobs outside of France in order to pursue cheaper taxes and cheaper labor.

Another, briefer pilots strike was planned for the German airline Lufthansa but was ultimately called off. Many European carriers have been forced to restructure and adjust their business models as they face competition from cheaper rivals.

[Reuters]