A new offer to try to end a week-long pilots’ strike in France has been rejected by union leaders.

The head of Air France-KLM said he was willing to postpone the expansion of its European low-cost operation until the end of the year.

This to allow more time for detailed negotiations on the project, which pilots fear will lead to worse conditions.

However, the main pilots’ union has slammed the offer as “the ultimate provocation” and nothing more than a “smokescreen” that fails to address key concerns.