Air France says staff strikes to incur huge cost

PARIS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Air France said on Tuesday that seven days of strikes by its French pilots, cabin crew and ground staff would cost the airline 170 million euros (209.59 million U.S. dollars).

"The impact on Air France's operating result of the seven days of strikes between 22 February and 11 April is estimated at 170 million euros," the flag carrier said in a statement.

Air France expected that 75 percent of its scheduled flights would be operational on Tuesday, when the sixth strike is due to take place.

More than a third of the pilots, 20.2 percent of the cabin crew, and 13 percent of the ground staff will stop working to demand a 6 percent rise in pay.

Consequently, 35 percent of the flag carrier's long-haul flights were canceled while a third of medium-haul flights to and from Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport have been suspended.

Some 20 percent of short-haul flights have been canceled to and from Paris's Orly airport and French regions.

Unions representing the airline staff have planned the seventh worker stoppages on Wednesday. Enditem