Air France CEO says to resign after failure to fix pay dispute

PARIS, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Air France CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac announced on Friday that he would resign after workers of the country's main flag carrier refused a pay deal he proposed to end rolling strikes.

"I take responsibility for the consequences of this vote and will in the coming days tender my resignation to the boards of Air France and Air France-KLM," Janaillac told reporters.

Staff at Air France employees rejected with a large majority a pay deal set to increase pay by 7 percent over four years and end rolling strikes that cost the company 300 million euros (358.76 million U.S. dollars).

"This vote is the translation of a malaise. It calls for a profound transformation. I hope that my departure will spark a more acute collective awareness," Janaillac added.

Appointed in 2016, Air France CEO proposed 2 percent pay rise in 2018 and 5 percent increase over the next thee years. But unions asked for a 5.1-percent raise this year.

The company's pilots, crew and ground staff staged on Friday their 13th day of strike, forcing the flag carrier to cancel a quarter of its scheduled flights.

In a joint statement, ministers of finances and transport said they took note of the vote. "It will be up to the board of directors to define the conditions for ending the current crisis. The group has strong assets but also many challenges in a very competitive market," Bruno Le Maire and Elisabeth Borne said.

The government which holds a minority stake in the flag carrier "appeals to everyone's sense of responsibility in order to allow the company to continue its development".

Unions plan further actions on May 7 and May 8. Enditem