Air France said on Wednesday that it would cut 2500-3000 jobs in the next two years while avoiding forced redundancies, in addition to about 1000 jobs already shed in the last 12 months.

A spokesperson for the airline told AFP: "We should reduce our staff by 2500 to 3000 in the next two financial years."

Air France said in February that in the financial year to March, just ended, it had reduced its workforce by 1000-1200 people by not replacing all of those who retired, by not recruiting and by terminating temporary contracts.