Air France strike grounds quarter of flights

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - A quarter of Air France's flights were cancelled on Friday due to a strike called by 11 unions of pilots, cabin crew and ground staff demanding a wage increase.

The airline announced on Thursday that only 70 percent of its long-haul flights and 80 percent of the airline's medium-haul flights would be running. Maintained flights are also expected to face major delays.

Nearly 35 percent of pilots, 31 percent of cabin staff and 29 percent of land workers are taking part in the 24-hour industrial action in a bid to pile pressure on management to increase staff salaries by 6 percent across the board.

The Air France management has put on the table a draft agreement providing a general increase of 1 percent, paid in two stages.

The strike comes after a similar move last February which saw Air France suspending 50 percent of its long-haul flights from Paris, 25 percent of its medium-haul flights to and from Charles de Gaulle Airport and 15 percent of its short-haul flights.