A leading French pilots union is calling for strike action this Thursday to protest against a government proposal to triple the levy on flight tickets as part of wider plans to plug a hole in France's state budget. The planned increase is set to raise up to €1 billion a year for the government, but unions say it will lead to job losses.
The strike notice – which concerns Air France as well as other carriers with pilots on French labour contracts – comes as the government tries to push through its draft budget for next year, despite lacking a majority in parliament.
