French air traffic controllers call off strike

French air traffic controllers have called off a strike -- planned for later in the week -- following "satisfactory" talks with the management on their demands, a media report said on Tuesday.

The announcement came after a "satisfactory" meeting held on Monday night with the management over working conditions, The Local news portal reported.

The SNCTA, France's largest air traffic controller union, initially planned the strike for April 16-18 and April 29 to May 2, following on from two days of industrial action last week that grounded around half the flights in France.

The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) "has given us a satisfactory document", SNCTA chief Roger Rousseau said as he announced the lifting of the strike call.

They are demanding talks over working practices and retirement age, currently set at 59 for air traffic controllers.

Their strike last week forced airlines to scrap around a half of their scheduled flights but passengers were generally well informed in advance and there was minimal chaos.

However, union leaders may still decide to stick to their planned strike for the end of the month if talks do not progress to their satisfaction.