Kucko spoke to the press and refuted each point put forward by the two unions who have been striking since 6 a.m. today, underscoring that if the company gave in to their demand to retain the rights from the previous collective agreement, this would threaten the restructuring programme which, if stuck to, would see the company's business results in the green at the end of the year for the first time.

He commended the company's results in Q1, saying that the number of passengers had increased by 6% and revenue from passenger transport edged up by 1%, while operational costs had been cut by 5%, which is the best result in the company's history.

It is not true that pilots are being made to work more for less money, Kucko claimed.

The norm set for pilots is 70 hours per month yet CA pilots fly an average of 60 hours.

CA's productivity in general is a problem, he said, adding that it was 10 - 15 per cent lower than the European average which he attributes to excessive annual leave. He said pilots will not even waiver two weeks of their annual leave in high season when the company has the most work.

He also denied that CA pilots had the lowest salaries in the region, claiming that the average gross salary was one of the highest in the region.

Kucko rejected claims that managers' salaries had been raised and that their salaries were in line with the government's decision of 3.2 times the average salary in Croatia.

He explained that austerity measures could not be achieved unless employee salaries were reduced and that there was no alternative to this.

Kucko reflected on the recent simultaneous sick leave taken by 48 flight attendants on May 1-2, stating that CA had not dismissed anyone yet for possible fake sick leave.

CA management continued negotiations this morning with the pilots' union and the flight attendants' union.

Pilots and flight attendants went on strike at 6 a.m. demanding that their acquired rights be retained in a new collective agreement. The strike disrupted travel for around 900 passengers of the 4,600 that were to have flown out of Zagreb. CA cancelled 24 scheduled international and domestic flights, while another 23 flights were re-scheduled or catered for with replacement companies.

On Monday, the union representing ground staff joined forces with the two striking unions, however, on Tuesday morning they accepted the terms of the new collective agreement and decided not to participate in the strike. Flight control staff announced later in the day that they fully supported the striking staff and announced a strike of solidarity.