Air France presents its strategic guidelines for 2017-2020 to the Central Works Council

Air France chairman and CEO Frédéric Gagey presented (15-Jan-2016) the carrier's strategic guidelines for 2017-2020 to the Central Works Council, within the framework of the Perform 2020 plan. Mr Gagey said the guidelines reflect the ambition of the carrier and draw on the improvements in the macroeconomic environment and the results of efforts already made in 2015. The guidelines include:

• An expansion of the Air France long-haul network by 2% to 3% p/a from 2017 to 2020. This development will provide for an additional seven aircraft in the long-haul fleet, the launch of one or two new destinations and an increase of around 10% in capacity and flight hours between 2016 and 2020;
• The stability of the short and medium-haul networks (excluding the effect of the TGV to Bordeaux);
• The continued growth of Transavia France, which will operate up to 40 aircraft in 2020.

Mr Gagey said these measures must be the object of renewed dialogue with the unions. Air France management has therefore suggested launching negotiations with pilot and cabin crew unions. Negotiations on career management with ground staff unions have just ended and will help to ensure, after signature, the absence of forced departures until Jun-2018. Mr Gagey added, "Air France's recovery is continuing and the current buoyant economic situation allows us to offer a return to growth as from 2017". The carrier stated net investments of the plan would exceed EUR1 billion by 2020 (Reuters, 15-Jan-2016). [more - original PR]