Air France’s Cabin crew to strike from July 27 to August 02, 2016

..Airline gives passengers precautions

The Air France Cabin Crew union plans to embark on one week strike. The industrial action is scheduled to  commence from July 27 to August 02, 2016. The airline expressed its displeasure about the strike. According to the airline’s statement, “ Air France deplores the call for strike action by two cabin crew unions (SNPNC-FO and UNSA-PNC) for the period from 27 July to 2 August, when Air France management had proposed a favourable agreement.”

Explaining what happened at the meeting with the union, the airline said that on Friday morning, management presented the cabin crew unions with a proposal to clarify and complete the draft cabin crew collective agreement for the period from November 2016 to March 2018.

“In addition to the improvements contained in the draft agreement, this new proposal contains several advances, which respond to a large extent to the demands made by both the UNAC, which postponed its strike notice several days ago, the UNSA PNC and the SNPNC/FO.”

“Talks between management and cabin crew unions continued until late into the night on Thursday.

It is too soon to know the precise impact of this strike action on the flight schedule. Based on the application of the Diard law, Air France will have accurate information to enable it to inform customers 24 hours before their departure.”

Ensuring the long-haul flight operates as schedule, the airline said, “the company is mobilized to ensure the majority of its long-haul schedule during this period. There may be more disruption on the short and medium-haul networks. Air France flights operated by another airline, including HOP!, KLM and Delta, as well as Transavia flights, are not affected by this strike action.”

"Air France management has gone as far as it could go with the social dialogue, in a spirit of compromise and responsibility with regard to the future of the company and all its staff. The call for strike action is irresponsible in this context and comes at the worst possible time for our customers" said Frédéric Gagey, Air France CEO.

Explaining the  likely impact of the action on the operations, the airline said, “as soon as we will have a more accurate estimate of the number of employees on strike and the impact on our operations, our flight schedule will be adapted accordingly and published the day before your departure.

Our teams are mobilized to ensure the most of our long-haul schedule during this period. Disruption on flight from and to France and Europe may be significant. Flight cancellations are to be expected.

Furthermore, in order to ensure a maximum number of flights with a reduced crew composition, we may be forced to limit the number of passengers on board some of our flights which would mean we may not be able to honour all reservations.

Customers affected by the cancellation of their reservation will be informed the day before departure.”

Keeping the line of communication with prospective passengers through the period of the strike, “to be notified personally by text message or e-mail, we invite you to update your contact information (phone and / or e-mail) in your reservation file on our website. In the meantime, we would like to assure you that our teams are fully mobilized and will do their utmost to assist you and minimize the impact of this industrial action on your travel plans.”

Also giving commercial measures to be implemented, the airline advised passengers that, “ If you wish to postpone your trip, we offer you the following commercial measures. If you have planned a trip on an Air France flight between July 27 and August 2, 2016: You can bring your trip forward on 25 or 26 July 2016 inclusive, or postpone your trip from 3 to 12 August 2016 inclusive. You can change your reservation at no extra cost in the same class of travel.”

“You can make these changes on this website, in the "Your reservations" section, on our mobile sites or from your travel agent.

You can also postpone your trip beyond 12 August, 2016, change your origin or destination or if you no longer wish to travel, you can receive of a non-refundable voucher valid one year on Air France, KLM or Hop!

In this case, you may contact your travel agent.”

“Before you go to airport, if the flight is "operated by Air France", we recommend that you check the information of about your bookings on our website or mobile app in the "your reservations" section.

If your reservation is cancelled, we recommend that you do not travel to the airport. Our staff will do their utmost to offer you an alternative solution.

Otherwise, you will be able to change your flight independently on our website. If you wish, you can also contact your travel agent or our teams who are mobilized to assist you in seeking an alternative solution. (in the "Contact us" section).”

“We sincerely hope that your flight will operate as scheduled and apologize for any inconvenience this strike action may cause you.”