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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.”
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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.
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