Pilots
for Air France have begun a week-long strike.
The
carrier will run less than 50% of normal flights, it said.
The
pilots are protesting against a transfer of jobs by the airline to a low-cost
carrier to keep up with competition.
Air
France is urging passengers around the world to change or postpone travel. Last
week it said it would transfer much of its European operations to low-cost
carrier Transavia.
The
same difficult conditions are faced by large airlines across Europe, facing
tough rivalry from budget airlines and Gulf state carriers, that are often
backed by royal families.
Lufthansa strike
Chief
Executive Frederic Gagey told France Inter radio that the strike would cost the
airline 10m to 15m euros (£8m - £12m) a day.
The
airline said it would consider negotiation on benefits based on
seniority for
Air France pilots who agree to work for Transavia.
However,
it said it would not agree to trade union demands that the contracts of
Transavia pilots carry the same terms as those flying under Air France.
Separately,
the Vereinigung Cockpit union, which represents Lufthansa's pilots, says they
will cease working from Frankfurt airport for eight hours on Tuesday,
preventing departures by Germany's biggest airline from its busiest airport.
There
have been several strikes in the past three weeks by Lufthansa pilots in Munich
and pilots at Lufthansa's Germanwings business.
That
strike is over early retirement terms.
BBC
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