Air France pilots call off strike

Air France pilots have called off a strike that has lasted for two weeks and cost the airline hundreds of millions of euros.

Pilots’ union SNPL and the airline have yet to reach an agreement over a dispute about the carrier’s plans to expand its budget subsidiary Transavia.

However, a union spokesman said it was ending the strike so negotiations could "continue in a calmer climate", reports the BBC.

Although the strike is now over, the two parties failed to resolve their differences during weekend talks.

The government, which owns a 16% stake in the airline, has pressed hard for an end to the strike.

Air France has now said flights will ‘gradually return to normal’ from Tuesday – those flights cancelled on Sunday and Monday would remain so.

Pilots are angry about Air France’s plans to compete with budget carriers like EasyJet and Ryanair by expanding its low-cost operation, Transavia, via regional hubs around Europe.

The airline bowed to union pressure last Thursday and agreed to expand its Transavia operations only within France.

However it insists that it must have the right to vary employment contracts for those working at the low-cost subsidiary.

Currently, Air France pilots are paid more than Transavia pilots.