Pilots at Air France appear to have capitulated after all-nght talks with management and will return to work after a two-week
stoppage, the longest in the company’s history.

The company said it expected normal service will require another two to three days to resume. Air France executives said they deplored the pilots’ union’s failure to sign an end-of-strike accord and insisted Air France would accelerate the development of its low-cost venture Transavia.

Expanding the Portuguese-based low-cost carrier to incorporate Air France staff would say pilots mean lower salaries and reduced benefits. The pliots’ union says it reserves the rights to take more action but had decided to lift the strike in a bid to reduce tension and cool off.