The Portuguese government's decision to hold talks with air traffic control employees of its state-run ATC group, NAV, was enough to convince controllers to halt a planned strike that would have erupted during the height of that nation's vacation-travel season.

Controllers, upset by austerity measures required by Portugal's lenders of bailout funds, originally planned to walk off the job for eight hours each day between June 29 and July 3.

Pilots at TAP Air Portugal, however, still intend to strike that airline between July 5 to 8 and again August 1 to 5 over demands for higher pay. Pilots also want a role in the airline's privatization plans.