France to seek minimum price for flights in Europe

(EurActiv, 20 Sep 2023) France will seek support from other European Union countries for a minimum price on flights in Europe in a bid to reduce the aviation sector’s contribution to climate change, Transport Minister Clément Beaune has said.

The move, if approved, would hit airlines offering super-cheap fares. But it may struggle to win sufficient support among EU countries, which include island nations that rely on air transport, and regions with tourism sectors buoyed by low-cost flights.

France’s aim is to “open the debate on the fair social and environmental price of a flight ticket,” Beaune said in written comments after meeting with Brussels-based journalists on Monday (18 September).

The issue will be raised during an informal meeting of EU transport ministers taking place in Barecelona, Spain, on 21-22 September.

“It’s not a question of multiplying by ten the price of tickets. Why? Because there are also people who take a plane once in their life, who don’t have much money – it’s also a freedom, a means of transportation that can’t be reserved for only the rich,” he said.

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EurActiv, 20 Sep 2023: France to seek minimum price for flights in Europe