Air France chief, Frederic Gagey, has stated that the airline has made a new proposal to its pilots unions on plans to increase the number of flying hours and more flexibility in return for a share of the resulting productivity gains. Unions have been given until May 2 to respond to the proposals that will see the airline hire more than the 600 new pilots previously envisaged through 2020, taking the total number to 3,900.
"The cost per hour of flying falls, this is necessary for the company to be competitive, but this is done in the context of more flying hours, so no one loses out," Gagey said. "Overall, pilot pay won't drop.