France to raise taxes on flights to boost train travel
France will raise taxes on airline tickets as a way to shift more people onto the trains.
France’s Transport Minister Clément Beaune announced measures as data revealed travel by air is often cheaper than train travel.
“Many people are shocked by the fact that it’s often cheaper to take a flight than a train,” the minister said.
The changes will be applied to routes between Paris and regional cities like such as Lyon, Nantes and Bordeaux.
A recent Greenpeace report found train tickets can be double that of flying.
In some cases, air travel is exempt from VAT and fuel tax but are applied for trains.
The report compared flight and train tickets over 100 routes in Europe, which included short cross-border journeys.
The tax increase could be implemented in the 2024 budget.
‘In a climate crisis, giving tax exemptions to a super polluting sector is incompatible with the challenges of today,” said Jo Dardenne, aviation director at campaign group Transport and Environment.
Airlines for Europe slammed the move.
“France already imposes some of the EU’s steepest flight taxes. Hiking them further will not guarantee more funding for decarbonization.”
Read Full Story
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt