Even as French skies were roiled by an air-traffic-control strike, Air France grappled with its own labour turbulence. More than a quarter of the flag-carrier’s 3,200 pilots began a three-day walk-out on Saturday, 8 February, protesting roster changes and pressing management to commit to a long-haul fleet-renewal order. The airline nevertheless managed to operate roughly 80 % of planned flights over the weekend and says it expects a similar performance on Monday and Tuesday. (gulftime.ae)
Pilots, represented by the SNPL union, object to a plan that extends monthly flying time by up to 10 hours without a proportional pay bump. They also want the group to accelerate a decision to purchase 26 additional Airbus A350-900s, arguing that ageing 777-200ERs saddle crews with reliability headaches and rob the airline of fuel-efficiency gains enjoyed by Gulf and Asian rivals.
For corporate travellers, the partial service is both a relief and a warning. Long-haul routes to North America and Asia have been prioritised, but intra-European frequencies have been thinned, forcing travellers onto train or codeshare options. Last-minute cancellations remain possible, and re-accommodation may push passengers onto Air France-KLM partners departing Amsterdam or on ground transport from Brussels.
![Air France Maintains 80 % of Schedule Despite Pilot Walkout]()
In cases where disrupted itineraries force travellers to reroute through additional countries or seek alternative entry points, VisaHQ’s online platform can rapidly determine whether a transit or short-stay visa is required, complete the application paperwork, and even book biometrics appointments. The service—available for France and more than 200 other jurisdictions (see https://www.visahq.com/france/)—helps travel managers avoid the last-minute scramble that so often accompanies strike season.
HR and mobility managers should remind employees to download the Air France app, enable notifications and keep receipts for any additional accommodation costs—reimbursable under most travel policies. Because the strike is an internal airline dispute, EU 261 compensation may apply if cancellations are announced within 14 days of departure and no alternative routing is offered.
Negotiations resume Wednesday under the auspices of France’s civil-aviation mediator. Analysts warn that if talks fail, a renewed walk-out could coincide with the Easter peak and the run-up to the 2026 UEFA Champions-League final in Paris, creating a perfect storm for inbound mobility.
Pilots, represented by the SNPL union, object to a plan that extends monthly flying time by up to 10 hours without a proportional pay bump. They also want the group to accelerate a decision to purchase 26 additional Airbus A350-900s, arguing that ageing 777-200ERs saddle crews with reliability headaches and rob the airline of fuel-efficiency gains enjoyed by Gulf and Asian rivals.
For corporate travellers, the partial service is both a relief and a warning. Long-haul routes to North America and Asia have been prioritised, but intra-European frequencies have been thinned, forcing travellers onto train or codeshare options. Last-minute cancellations remain possible, and re-accommodation may push passengers onto Air France-KLM partners departing Amsterdam or on ground transport from Brussels.
In cases where disrupted itineraries force travellers to reroute through additional countries or seek alternative entry points, VisaHQ’s online platform can rapidly determine whether a transit or short-stay visa is required, complete the application paperwork, and even book biometrics appointments. The service—available for France and more than 200 other jurisdictions (see https://www.visahq.com/france/)—helps travel managers avoid the last-minute scramble that so often accompanies strike season.
HR and mobility managers should remind employees to download the Air France app, enable notifications and keep receipts for any additional accommodation costs—reimbursable under most travel policies. Because the strike is an internal airline dispute, EU 261 compensation may apply if cancellations are announced within 14 days of departure and no alternative routing is offered.
Negotiations resume Wednesday under the auspices of France’s civil-aviation mediator. Analysts warn that if talks fail, a renewed walk-out could coincide with the Easter peak and the run-up to the 2026 UEFA Champions-League final in Paris, creating a perfect storm for inbound mobility.
