Air France-KLM has said that the pilot’s strike last month has cost it €416 million (£328 million). Combined with a seasonal dip in demand, this reduced operating profit at the company by more than half.

Air France finance director Pierre-Francois Riolacci said: "Over and above the effects of the strike, we also predict that the market will remain sluggish in the fourth quarter.”

The strike was a part of a plan to expand its budget arm Transavia to keep up with low cost rivals, although Transavia pilots are hired under local employment terms and paid less than Air France-KLM pilots.