Air France plans to cut further 2,800 jobs to stem financial losses

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/sep/18/air-france-to-cut-workforce

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Air France says it needs to cut 2,800 jobs to balance its books and return to health after years of falling demand and increased competition from low cost carriers.

The airline, which is part of the loss-making Franco-Dutch group Air France-KLM, said Wednesday that it would offer buyout plans in order to cut about 5% of its workforce.

Air France is struggling to compete with low cost operators and plans to offer fewer flights between Paris and provincial cities itself, while increasing flights on its low cost carrier, Transavia.

The airline had already announced that it was reducing its staff by about 5,000 people and originally said it would stem losses by the end of 2013. It is now saying that will not happen before next year.

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