Air traffic strike lifted - French skies clear again

The agreement between striking air traffic controllers and the French Government last night to park their dispute over resources is a welcome relief to thousands of frustrated travellers and intending holiday-makers.

France enjoys the greatest number of foreign visitors in Europe and the dispute had the capacity to leave a rancorous aftertaste. It may still do. Consumer sentiment may be fickle, but messing with the people is a short cut to a public relations own goal.

Ryanair — one of the airlines affected by the strike — also believes European air traffic controllers should not be allowed strike, pointing out that their US counterparts are not permitted to do so.

They may have a point. However, the issues are fundamental and unlikely to disappear any time soon.

The strike action, slated to continue into the weekend, was only called off by Unsa-ICNA union after the French government accepted the “importance of investment in the sector”.

France’s largest air traffic controllers union, the SNCTA supported their colleagues’ claims that the country’s air navigation apparatus was becoming dangerously obsolete.

On that basis, the French Government must commit to that investment, and ensure such disruptive actions — justified or not — are the exception, not the rule.