According to reports in the French Lettre de l'Expansion newsletter, Russian air carrier Aeroflot is in advanced talks to join the SkyTeam airline alliance.

Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Groupe Air France chief executive, has said that according to CGT and CFDT labour union sources, an alliance with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines NV should generate €400m of cost synergies over the next 5 years.

Seven labour unions of Groupe Air France have called for a 24-hour strike on Oct 24 to protest the French government's plans to continue its privatisation efforts by selling additional shares held by the state, according to a CFDT union official.

Groupe Air France said its flights are likely to be badly disrupted in a strike action called by several pilots' unions from Sept 6-9.

Groupe Air France said it cancelled today's flight from Paris to New Delhi because of the rising political tension between India and Pakistan.