In a late-night bulletin carried by the Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA) on 25 September 2026, EasyJet’s French pilot union announced the suspension of a planned 48-hour strike scheduled for 1–2 October. The breakthrough came after management agreed to a new pay scale that links future salary increases to the airline’s carbon-reduction milestones, a first in the French aviation sector. The industrial action—initially set for mid-September and postponed twice—threatened to cancel up to 240 flights during a busy shoulder-season travel period. EasyJet carries a disproportionate share of intra-European business travellers on the Paris–Milan, Paris–Berlin and Lyon–London routes, where corporate negotiated fares often undercut legacy carriers by 25 percent. Under the deal, pilots will receive a 3 percent salary bump on 1 January 2027, followed by additional 1-point increments each time EasyJet France cuts a further 5 percent of its per-seat carbon emissions, as audited by ADEME, the French environment agency. The accord also increases per-diem allowances for overnight layovers in high-cost cities such as Geneva and Amsterdam. For mobility managers the immediate benefit is operational stability: EasyJet has already reinstated 168 flights it had provisionally removed from global distribution systems. However, the agreement may set a precedent for other low-cost carriers operating in France, potentially raising labour costs that could filter through to ticket prices over time. Corporations with volume agreements should review contract clauses that allow fuel-surcharge adjustments, ensuring that future eco-linked wage costs do not trigger unexpected fare hikes. Travellers holding alternative bookings for 1–2 October have until 30 September to move back to EasyJet flights without change fees.
Source: NAMPA (via AFP wire)
