Air France-KLM is delaying its plans to expand its low cost unit Transavia until the end of the year to buy time to try to end a strike by pilots.

Chief executive Alexandre de Juniac said on Monday afternoon he is halting the expansion in the hope that this will ‘restore calm within the company and end the strike that has lasted too long’.

The pilots are angry that the switch in emphasis towards Transavia will hit their pay and conditions agreements. The strike is said to be costing the airline €15m a day.