Transavia: massive vote by pilots in favor of the reorganization project

Members of the SNPL, the majority union of pilots at Air France, voted overwhelmingly in a referendum in favor of a draft agreement validated by its board on the development of the low-cost subsidiary Transavia on the domestic network, announced this Wednesday the union. A plan which will involve the resumption of certain lines of Hop! and the elimination of nearly half of the regional subsidiary's workforce.

Read also: Transavia boom: an agreement submitted to referendum by the SNPL pilots' union

Transavia France, hitherto confined to the medium-haul network, "will soon announce the details of the routes it plans to provide and the timetable for their opening" , according to a press release from management. “ Members overwhelmingly approved the draft agreements on support for the domestic project and an amendment to the Air France-Transavia France pilot group agreement by 90.37% of positive votes. The participation rate reached 82.63% ”, welcomes the SNPL in a press release. " This result clearly illustrates the pilots' desire to get involved in the future of Air France and to participate in the development of Transavia France, " he adds.

For Guillaume Gestas, President of SNPL Air France-Transavia France, “ by approving these major texts, pilots are showing both their interest in the company Transavia France, the main medium-haul growth vector in the group, as well as their confidence in the future of Air France medium-haul, the heart of the Paris Charles de Gaulle hub ”.

"Major breakthrough in the rebound strategy"

Until then confined to the medium-haul network, the low-cost company will thus be able to recover part of the domestic connections made by Air France or by Hop !, in accordance with the “ reconstruction plan ” recently presented by management. With this strategy, the Air France group intends to face competition from the TGV and low-cost companies on its domestic network, which recorded losses of 200 million euros in 2019. For the CEO of Air France-KLM, Benjamin Smith, “the rapid signing of this agreement is a major step forward in the Air France-KLM group's rebound strategy” . "While our sector is going through an unprecedented crisis and entering a phase of profound change, we have taken an essential step in order to sustainably improve our economic and environmental performance" , he added, quoted in a press release from management.

Caught in the turbulence linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, the group formalized in early July the elimination of 7,580 jobs by the end of 2022, or 16% of Air France's workforce and 40% of those of Hop !. Management is counting on natural departures that are not replaced and voluntary departures, but in the short-haul, forced departures are not excluded.

Read also: Air France intends to reorganize its domestic network with Transavia

Several unions denounced the rise of Transavia to the detriment of the other two companies. Within Transavia, pilots have remuneration harmonized with those of Air France, even if they fly more, according to the SNPL. Hostesses and stewards have less advantageous contracts and ground staff are subcontracted. Contacted, the management of Air France indicated that it would communicate " later ".