Air France scrapped half of its flights yesterday after pilots began a strike against the company’s plan to develop its low-cost subsidiary.

“We expect to be able to run 48 per cent of our flights” with roughly 60 per cent of pilots downing tools, claimed Air France director of operations Catherine Jude.

But pilots’ union SNPL warned that eight out of 10 flights could be cancelled as the strike continued through the week.

Unions fear that expanding Air France’s low-cost operation Transavia will lead to jobs being outsourced and “social dumping,” with pilots being employed on local contracts.

“This is about a point of principle. We’re not even talking about a rise in wages,” said SNPL head Jean-Louis Barber.

Air France boss Frederic Gagey put the daily losses from the strike at “€10 to €15 million” (£8-12m) and claimed management was “doing everything … to try to find a way out.”