Union activists protesting against proposed lay-offs at Air France have stormed the headquarters during a meeting, zeroing in on two managers who had their shirts torn from their bodies, scaled a fence and fled under police protection.

About a hundred activists rush the building. The managers who fled included the head of human resources.

Air France-KLM chief executive Alexandre de Juniac announced on Friday the company would have to cut jobs after failing to reach an agreement with pilots. French media reported a proposal to slash 2,900 jobs.

Mr de Juniac said the company was being squeezed by low-cost airlines in Europe and Gulf carriers for long-haul flights.

The meeting was intended to detail the cuts, which he told Europe 1 radio would be "significant".

Among those at the protest was Yves Porte, an activist who represents cargo workers.

"At a certain moment the Gulf companies, who have low fuel prices and who receive government subsidies, compete with us. It's impossible, we are not on a level playing field," he said.

Air France said it would file a complaint for aggravated assault.

Although the scuffle was unusually violent, labour relations in France are commonly testy, with unions sometimes even resorting to "boss-napping" to make a point.

France's transport secretary, Alain Vidalies, condemned the violence, saying in a tweet it was "unacceptable and must be punished".