Air France Counts Cost As Cabin Crew Strike Ends

Air France flights are due to return to near normal levels on Wednesday as the seven-day strike by cabin crew ended, but unions raised the prospect of further industrial action.

The strike caused significant disruption during the peak summer travel season, with 1,400 flights cancelled and 180,000 passengers affected.

Cabin crew unions said another stoppage could come as early as next week, but Air France said it had offered to resume talks and was ready to maintain the current agreement until February while talks continue.

Air France chief executive Frederic Gagey said the strike would cost the airline about EUR€90 million (USD$100 million).

The airline said it expects flight schedules to return to normal on Wednesday, although there may be some last-minute disruptions.

Parent group Air France-KLM last week reported that it had cut its net loss to EUR€114 million in the first half of the year, down from EUR€638 million in the same period in 2015.

However, operating profit for the second quarter rose to EUR€317 million from EUR€179 million in the same period last year, partly on lower fuel costs.

Revenue for the second quarter, to end June, was down 5.2 percent at EUR€6.22 billion.