France is pushing for a minimum price for airline tickets in the EU to reduce carbon emissions and encourage more people to use trains instead of planes. The proposal, which has been supported by the European court, could end the era of cheap flights in Europe and make air travel more expensive and less accessible for everyone.
The French government wants to introduce a minimum price for airline tickets in the EU based on the amount of CO2 emitted per passenger per kilometer. The price would vary depending on the distance and the type of flight. It could range from 30 euros ($35) for a short-haul flight to 180 euros ($212) for a long-haul flight.
“We want to put an end to the race for low prices that leads to ever-increasing emissions,” said Barbara Pompili, French Minister for Ecological Transition. She added that the minimum price would not affect the majority of travelers, who fly less than once a year, but would target the frequent fliers who cause more pollution.
The French government also plans to invest more in train infrastructure, ban short-haul flights where trains are available, and increase the tax on private jets. These measures are part of France’s efforts to meet its climate goals and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The EU is considering these proposals, which have been backed by the European court, which ruled that France can impose an eco-tax on flights departing from its airports. The tax, which was introduced in 2019, ranges from 1.5 euros ($1.8) to 18 euros ($21) per ticket depending on the destination and the class of travel.
“We need a fair and effective pricing system that takes into account the environmental and social costs of aviation,” said Adina Valean, EU Transport Commissioner. She said that the EU was working on a common framework for carbon pricing in aviation that would be compatible with the EU’s emissions trading system.
However, not everyone is happy with France’s initiative. Some airlines and industry groups have criticized the proposal, saying that it would hurt consumers and airlines. They argue that air travel is already heavily taxed in Europe and that imposing a minimum price would violate the principle of free competition.
“This is a bad idea that will hurt consumers and airlines. It will make air travel more expensive and less accessible for everyone,” said Thomas Reynaert, Airlines for Europe, a trade association that represents major European airlines such as Lufthansa, Ryanair and Air France-KLM.
Some environmentalists also say that France’s proposal is not enough to tackle the climate crisis. They say that more radical measures are needed to limit the frequent fliers who take half of the flights. They suggest a frequent flyer tax that would increase with each flight taken and would not affect infrequent travelers.
“The minimum price is a good first step, but it is not enough. We need a frequent flyer tax that would target the 1% of the population that takes half of the flights,” said Agathe Bounfour, Climate Action Network France.
“We are not against flying, we are against flying too much. We want to make flying a luxury again, not a commodity,” said Leo Murray, Possible, a UK-based environmental group that campaigns for a frequent flyer tax.
France’s proposal could have a significant impact on the future of air travel in Europe, where low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and EasyJet have revolutionized the market by offering cheap flights to hundreds of destinations. If adopted by the EU, the proposal could change the way people travel and force airlines to adapt to a new reality.
Relevant articles:
– The End Of Cheap Europe Flights? France Proposes EU-Wide Minimum Price, Forbes, September 7, 2023
– France Proposes EU Minimum Flight Price Policy, Time Out, September 8, 2023
– France wants to end cheap flights in Europe. Here’s why that matters, CNN, September 9, 2023
– France pushes for minimum price on flights in Europe, The Guardian, September 10, 2023