Air France set to cut about 5000 jobs

French airline Air France is set to cut about 5,000 jobs by 2015, the CFE-CGC trade union said on Wednesday as it pushed for a social plan that did not include outright firing. The figure of 5,000 jobs has been reported by several French media and it was "not far from the truth," GFE-CGC representative Ronald Noiret told AFP, before adding: "It will be around 5,000 posts according to our estimations." Air France management declined to comment on the number, and a works committee meeting is scheduled for June 21. The struggling Franco-Dutch carrier Air France-KLM has launched a major cost-saving programme after posting a loss of 809 million euros ($1.0 billion) for 2011 and a first quarter net loss in 2012 of 368 million euros. Noirot said: "We are ready to accept a lot of efforts on the part of personnel if the protocol agreement presented to unions guarantees the jobs of those who do not want to leave voluntarily." "In no case do we want forced departures."