The French Government has bowed to pressure from airlines and employees to drop plans to limit the range of flights from Paris Orly - the capital's second international airport.
Transport minister Jean-Paul Gayssot had wanted to cut the maximum distance airlines could fly from the airport to 5,000km (2,700nm), leaving long-range carriers such as AOM and Corsair with no choice but to move to Paris Charles de Gaulle, where major rival Air France has its hub.
Gayssot had watered down the original plan, announcing in December a series of measures, including increased spending on ground infrastructure and ways of securing jobs at the airport. This failed to impress Corsair and AOM, which said the move would cost them Fr420 million ($70 million) and Fr251 million, respectively.
On 21 May, Gayssot withdrew the plan, admitting the move "would have a negative financial impact" on the two airlines, as well as going against their strategies.
Source: Flight International
