PARIS – Air France-KLM says it isn’t ready to abandon a plan to transfer activities to a low-cost carrier, contradicting a government minister’s claim.

France’s junior minister for transport, Alain Vidalies, said on RMC radio Wednesday that Air France was withdrawing the plan in the face a protracted strike by pilots.

But Air France spokesman Cedric Leurquin told The Associated Press that there has been “no change in the negotiations.” He said the airline is sticking to its offer Monday to suspend the plan until the end of the year but not withdrawing it.

Unions dismissed that offer as a stalling tactic. They say the plan to shift much of Air France’s European operations to low-cost carrier Transavia will cost too many jobs.