The French government is to increase the tax on airline tickets to raise €110 million (R2,3 billion) to refurbish its rail sector.
Following its recent ban on short-haul flights where a rail route can be used to reach the destination in under two and a half hours, this new measure aims to encourage domestic train travel over air travel to achieve environmental goals.
The French Transport Minister, Clément Beaune, pointed out that air travel cost less than train travel. Environmental activist organisation, Greenpeace, also released a report in July highlighting the unreasonably high cost of train travel across 79 European rail routes. Beaune explained that, as a result, airlines, business travellers and people who buy more expensive fares will bear the brunt of the higher tax.
The measure will be introduced in the 2024 budget as part of a wider plan to decrease carbon emissions across all industries. Beaune mentioned the potential kerosene tax, which has been under review due to member states’ lack of consensus across Europe.
In Europe, rail networks are receiving heavy investment, with several new lines operating across borders. In terms of the trains themselves, due to past challenges regarding matching train tracks from country to country, new rolling stock can adapt to gauge change, varying heights of platforms and different voltages.
In April, France implemented the ban on air journeys which could be travelled via train in under two and a half hours, as part of an agreement made during the bailout of Air France during the pandemic. Although it is flawed, many see it as a first step to reducing carbon emissions in the travel industry.
Beaune also implied that a tax on private jets would be introduced. This follows debates between environmentalists and the French government, the result of which is still to be seen.
