BBC Correspondent Stephen Jessel: "The government can make its views felt" (2'13")

Talks between the two sides have broken down and it now seems inevitable that the conflict will disrupt at least the opening stages of the football World Cup, which begins on Wednesday.

On the sixth day of the strike which is costing Air France an estimated $16m a day, Mr Jospin said the government could play a role in the hours ahead, while respecting the independence of Air France management.

"I believe everyone must be concerned about this and for that reason if the government can be useful, naturally taking into respect the autonomy of the management, we will play a role in the hours that come," he said.

However, he insisted that the industrial action would not damage the football tournament.

"The World Cup will go ahead as normal. The French do not need to take a plane to go to the matches, nor do Europeans, while there will be plenty of other airlines to bring everyone else here instead of Air France," he said.

All-night negotiations between pilots' unions and the management ended with the main SNPL union walking out. No date has been set for further discussions.

The SNPL said it hoped Air France would call another meeting on Monday.

French PM promises World Cup will go ahead as normal

"If we do not find an agreement on Monday then I would say that the World Cup will start without Air France planes," leader of the SNPL union, Jean-Charles Corbet said.

Severe disruption

The strike continues to cause serious disruption to Air France, with only one in four flights being operated over the weekend.

Strike has been going on five days

The pilots have been on strike demanding that the airline scrap plans for pay cuts as part of privatisation.

Air France has already lost more than the $80m it had hoped to save by the pay cuts.

The disruption to domestic and international flights has been made worse by separate strikes by ground staff at Paris airports and railway ticket inspectors.

Row over pay cuts

The 3,200 pilots on strike had refused management proposals to accept pay cuts in return for shares in the airline when it is privatised.

But though both sides have periodically expressed optimism and put forward separate outlines for a settlement with the pilots offering to suspend the strike under certain conditions, no deal has been reached.

Air France management claims that French pilots are paid 40% more than their German counterparts and 19% more than British Airways pilots.

Fortnight of action planned

The strike is scheduled to go on for at least 15 days and the pilots have said that it could be extended for the duration of the football tournament.

Air France is a sponsor of the World Cup and charged with moving the 32 teams round the country.