PARIS, July 31 (UPI) — An Air France flight attendant strike at the height of tourist season is affecting thousands of passengers.
The airline said the strike has also cost tens of millions of euros and 20 percent of its flights are grounded, RFI reported.
About one in every five of the airline’s flights, or about 900, have been cancelled since the strike began on Wednesday. The company said it expected the same level of service Sunday and said last-minute cancellations or delays can’t be ruled out,thelocal.fr reported.
The French airliner had to cancel a New Delhi flight on Friday due to lack of staff. For security purposes, each flight must have at least one flight attendant for every 50 passengers.
The unions that represent about half of those striking said the walk-out is the result of long talks that failed to reach a breakthrough for new collective labor rules, pay and promotions set to expire in October.
The airline management wants to limit the contract extension to 17 months while unions want a three- to five-year contract.
Air France was dealing with a pilot strike in June, just as the Euro 2016 football championships got under way.
