Air France-KLM’s French low-cost carrier, Transavia, cancelled 15% of flights amid a dispute with cabin crew, exacerbating the chaos engulfing European air travel.
The airline is operating 85% of its flight program Wednesday, according to a spokesman. The SNPNC union, which had called for strike action over wages, said dozens of the company’s flights from Paris-Orly airport were pulled on the first day of a conflict that could drag on through Sunday.
The disruption is the latest to hit a sector that’s plunged into crisis over a combination of surging demand for travel, staff shortages and labor disputes. The strikes are also a setback for Air France-KLM Chief Executive Officer Ben Smith, who has touted the labor peace that followed his taking of the helm as crucial for the turnaround of the carrier.