There's good news and bad news as Air France hits the headlines

© Rebius

Air France has been in the news this month. From erroneously flying a US missile to Cuba after a freight forwarder made a fairly significant mistake, to parking the last of its passenger 747s, it has been a busy month. But its plans for the future are probably most relevant. Its announcement last year that it would cut 2,900 jobs, (resulting in management being laid rather bare) has been shelved, for now. Cuts this year will be voluntary, but, warned chairman Alexandre de Juniac, worse could be imposed next year if unions and management fail to agree. Meanwhile two unions have called for strike action this month, partly to protest job losses and partly after two Air France Cargo employees were suspended following the shirt-ripping incident. Profitability is now forecast for as early as next year, and the carrier is to expand its long haul network by 2-3% each year between 2017 and 2020.