Following legal action taken unsuccessfully against the French government by ski area association Domaines Skiables de France last week, the Conseil d'Etat - France's highest court for issues involving public administration - confirmed on Friday that French ski areas must remain closed during the Holiday season, but may reopen 7 January 2021 if the coronavirus situation allows.

But despite strict lockdown, the rate of COVID-19 infection in the French Alps continues to rise, so a 7 January reopening date may be unrealistic.

Finance Minister Bruno LeMaire has said that € 400M in subsidies will be made available to ski resorts forced to close during the holiday period.

But that is likely small comfort to France's 250 ski resort operators, who normally see around € 2.5B in business in the Holiday season.