During a central social and economic committee on July 3, Air France announced a dramatic workforce restructuring plan. The company will cut 7,850 jobs including 6,560 at Air France and 1,020 at the short-haul subsidiary HOP!, equating to more than 16% of the company’s workforce. With workforce reductions, the airline mainly aims at changing its domestic business model to reduce its external and internal costs. “For Air France, predictions of staff requirements show a reduction of 6,560 jobs by the…
The French state continues to distribute aid to economic sectors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. After implementing a plan of 18 billion euros to save the tourism industry and another 8 billion euros for the automotive industry, it was the turn for aviation. The Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno…
Air France has announced it will immediately retire its Airbus A380 fleet following the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The airline was due to retire nine A380s from its fleet by 2022, however, the French flag carrier has brought this date forward. In a statement, the airline said: "In the…
Air France has announced that it plans to gradually resume its flights between now and the end of June as demand for air travel begins to rise. The French carrier is currently operating between three and five percent of its usual schedule, which it has been doing since the end…
Following the lead of other major manufacturers in the aviation sector, Franco-Italian aircraft builder ATR has started laying the groundwork for its own slowdown of construction of new planes as the coronavirus continues to plague the industry. The aircraft manufacturer’s CEO Stefano Bortoli commented on the matter in a Reuters…
Air France is extending its business class service to customers on its domestic network, on departing flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and other French cities, which will also be available on short-haul flights connecting the French regions to international destinations. Now business class customers with a connection on a…
As labor strikes enter their fifth day, airlines have continued to cancel flights from, to and through French airspace. The strikes also continue to effect other modes of transportation, with an estimated traffic line stretching over 300 miles long getting in to Paris according to CNBC. London-based British Airways cancelled…
Quietly tucked on the French side of the dual-country island of Saint Martin, the L’Espérance Airport is far from the landmark that its cross-island neighbor Princess Juliana International Airport has become. While it can't boast widebody aircraft flying mere feet above, the airport still plays a key to the French…
Two weeks after halting ticket sales, French carrier XL Airways has announced that it is suspending flights effective from Sept. 30 through until at least Oct. 3. The airline, based at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, operates a fleet made up of three Airbus A330-200s and one A330-300. The airline…
French low-cost carrier XL Airways has announced that it has ceased selling tickets as of Sept. 19, due to "financial difficulties." The company also announced the cancellation of several flights, leaving its future in doubt as there are unconfirmed reports that a possible selloff is on progress. DreamJet Participations, XL's…
