Air France (AF, Paris CDG) has grounded one of its B787-9s and reduced the frequency of Paris CDG-Guangzhou flights due to a disagreement with labour union STPL over pilot training, Air Transport World has reported.
The French flag carrier has already reduced the frequency of the route from 5x to 3x weekly and operates it with a B777-300(ER) instead of a B787-9. According to ch-aviation analysis of FlightRadar24 ADS-B data, no specific aircraft has been grounded but Air France does not currently appear to be fully utilizing its fleet of six B787-9s.
STPL is blocking the training of B787 pilots by B777 Family instructors as the French carrier is engulfed in a deep conflict with labour unions which have organised 14 days of strikes this year alone since February. The financial impact of the protests is estimated at EUR300 million euro (USD360 million) by Air France. On May 7, Air France-KLM Group CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac announced he would quit after the staff had rejected a new pay offer, demanding more imminent raises.
