a union alerts the government to Air France’s policy

The Alter pilots’ union alerted the government on July 20 to Air France’s policy, franceinfo learned on Wednesday from the organization. Faced with the lack of response from the Minister Delegate for Transport Clément Beaune, the third pilots’ union decided to make its letter public on Wednesday August 17. In particular, he warns the minister against “unreasonable chronic fatigue” within the profession. “Besides the impact on flight safety”, “the ambition of return” of Air France CEO Benjamin Smith makes “explode psychosocial risks”writes Alter in his letter.

“Our company is maintaining its ambitious recovery program despite understaffing”worries the union, citing in particular a lack of personnel among pilots, hostesses and stewards or even ground agents. “This translates into flights built to the limits and minimum rests.” Alter warns Minister Delegate Clément Beaune that the objectives “unrealistic” of the CEO of Air France also lead to “managerial violence”. According to the organization, “10% of Air France pilots declare themselves” by the way “in a state of depression”.

In its open letter, the pilots’ union also warns “on the positioning of the Air France Group in terms of energy efficiency”. “One example among others concerns carrying fuel for economic reasons. On average, this practice increases fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 6%. For Alter, “Air France does not hesitate to waste if it improves profitability”.

Sifting through the company’s entire policy, the trade union organization also wishes to draw the Minister’s attention to the recent reorganizations of Air France’s take-off slots. “The use is optimized for the more profitable activity of its subsidiary Transavia, namely leisure flights, to the detriment of regional planning and taxpayers.” Alter also complains about the choice of the Airbus A220 to replace the A320. “Training delays lead the company to call on Airbus Canada instructor pilots, without this guaranteeing an acceptable level of safety.”

In its letter of July 20, therefore, which remained unanswered, the Alter union already regretted that the predecessor of the Minister Delegate Clément Beaune had “close your eyes” despite numerous warnings. On June 25, the trade union organization had called a strike because of a “serious and imminent danger to pilot fatigue” who believed that they had carried out certain thefts “unreasonable”.