In a press release, Air France-KLM said its Board of Directors had met on Thursday to assess the implementation of the Perform 2020 plan within the Group, that KLM Management signed an agreement in September to increase productivity with all its staff. This agreement was immediately put into effect.

The release further stated "The Board has noted the absence of an agreement on 30 September 2015 in the negotiations between Air France Management and flight crew unions, in spite of on-going dialogue over the past several months and numerous proposals put forward by Air France Management.

"Facing the impossibility of reaching an agreement to implement the productivity measures within Air France in order to restore long-term profitability, the Board members consider it essential to introduce an alternative plan and have unanimously agreed to mandate Air France-KLM and Air France Management to carry this out.