With sleight of hand and a change of name, Christian Blanc, now heading up both Air Inter and Air France, has dissipated the social unrest brewing around him. Air Inter's unions were against being merged into Air France Europe, wanting instead independence and the ability to develop freely.
As neither was fully acceptable to Blanc he has settled for a compromise. Air France Europe will join Air Inter in a new company - yet to be named - which will take over domestic and medium-haul operations from Paris/Orly and Charles de Gaulle.
According to Patrick Alexandre, chief operating officer of Air France's European 'results' centre, the new operation will offer both the 'lite simpler service that Air Inter does so well' and the two-class product that Air France now flies on routes against the European majors. Meanwhile, Air France itself will operate the long-haul routes from Paris/CDG.
But the new company cannot begin until 1997, due to the EU restrictions on Air France's state aid package, and management is still in the process of ironing out the details of how to begin the integration in 1996 without breaching these. It is this interim period which now concerns the unions. 'We don't know what will happen to Air Inter in 1996,' says Jean Paul Meheust, chairman of cabin/ground crew union SNPNC.
While the unions are pleased that Air Inter's 'simpler style service' will probably be maintained, Meheust does not see the decision as a victory because Orly airport is slot restricted, and that will constrain the carrier's development.
Source: Airline Business
