Air France confirms heavy job cuts across the board

Air France has confirmed previous speculative reports that an additional 2'800 jobs are to be shed as part of Air France-KLM's ongoing struggle to cut costs ahead of a possible sixth consecutive annual operating loss. 

The French carrier said negotiations with union representatives over proposed voluntary-retirement packages would begin on October 4. Air France is already in the process of removing 5'120 out of 49'300 staff on French contracts by the end of 2013 as part of plans unveiled in June last year. 

"We are in a period of weak demand," chief executive Frederic Gagey was quoted by Reuters. "We have felt the full brunt of the cyclicality of air transport." 

Air France's Cargo division will bear the heaviest brunt of all Air France's divisions with its fleet to be reduced to two B777-Fs and its Paris Orly operations to be closed down.

Source: CH-Aviation