KLM, the Dutch airline part of the overall Air France KLM group, and Delta Airlines - which has an 8.8 percent equity stake in the company - were concerned over Capron's lack of experience in the aviation sector, added BFM Business.

A spokeswoman for Air France KLM said the company had no comment to make on the matter.

A source told Reuters last week that Capron, currently chief financial officer at French water utility company Veolia, was among the favourites to become the new CEO of Air France KLM.

Over the weekend, French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire had confirmed that Capron was "one candidate among several others" for the post of Air France KLM CEO.

Air France-KLM's former chief executive Jean-Marc Janaillac resigned last month after staff rejected a new pay offer.

(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)