Air France, part of Franco-Dutch group, said on June 11 it estimated that about 25% of its pilots would strike. Union SNPL said 70% of pilots would not show up.
Air France said in a statement that on June 11 it was operating 83% of flights - 93% of the long-haul flights from Paris, 91% of its domestic flights and 73% of its medium-haul flights to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport.
For June 12, Air France said it expected that 27% of the pilots would strike and expected to operate almost 80% of its flights. An Air France spokeswoman told Reuters it expected a similar trend for Monday.
The airline has said it would strive to ensure minimal disruption to flights serving cities hosting Euro 2016 soccer matches.
Gagey said on Thursday the four-day walkout over pay cuts would cost the airline about EUR5 million (US$5.65 million) each day.
The strike was called by unions Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL), which represents more than half of the airline's pilots, and SPAF, which represents about a quarter, after negotiations this week collapsed.
The pilots strike comes amid weeks of nationwide protests against plans to reform France's strict labor laws, which have blocked refineries, disrupted rail travel and left garbage piling up on the streets of Paris.
