Air France has entered talks with Reunion-based Air Austral to lease out one of its B787-9s, as it deals with a pilots' union strike which has grounded one of its six Dreamliners.

Air France is seeking to offset the monthly lease of US$1.0 million for the B787, as the dispute with the SNPL union is leaving the airline with a lack of pilots due to flight safety disagreements.

The respective B787 was grounded earlier in May 2018, although another of its B787 may be the actual aircraft that is eventually leased to Air Austral.

Air France is also considering the cancellation of its seventh B787 delivering in October 2018, if the dispute continues. The airline only has the sufficient crews to fly five Dreamliners until the end of 2018.