French air strike threat over

Executives at MIPTV are breathing a unified sigh of relief after the threat of industrial action that would have seen hundreds of flights out of France cancelled was lifted.

The proposed action – on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week (April 16-18) – will no longer go ahead, meaning delegates will be able to return home at the conclusion of the Cannes market.

Air traffic controllers union the SNCTA confirmed it would not instruct its members to strike after assurances from management were received. The previous plan would have seen about half of all flights from France cancelled, plunging those attempting to get home into disarray.

The incident harks back to MIPCOM 2013, when a separate planned strike that would have coincided with the end of the market nearly caused travel chaos.

However, as with this week’s news, the threat was dropped after talks made progress.

The SNCTA has been pushing for action over restructuring plans and a change in retirement age for air traffic controllers.