France unveils first short domestic flight ban legislation

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France is poised to ban all domestic flights that can otherwise be done by train in less than 2.5 hours as part of efforts to reduce largescale carbon emissions by 40% of 1990 levels by 2030. Under the framework of the Climate and Resilience bill, which was adopted during its first reading by the National Assembly on April 10, the following domestic routes would be affected given they are all served by high-speed rail:

  • Paris Orly-Bordeaux;
  • Paris Orly-Lyon St. Exupéry;
  • Paris Orly-Nantes;
  • Paris Orly-Rennes;
  • Lyon-Marseilles.

However, connecting flights, i.e. those that connect via another city to an end destination, will be exempted. French media reports indicate the government reduced the threshold from the previously requested four (4) hours given concern the move would have a more significant impact on Air France (AF, Paris CDG), which the state is trying to assist. “We know that aviation is a key contributor of carbon dioxide and that due to climate change, we need to reduce emissions,” French Industry Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher told radio Europe 1. “On the other hand, we need to support our businesses and not let them down.” The bill still has to go to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house.

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