While the vote on the 2025 budget is expected in the coming days, the airline Air France has already announced an increase in its prices. As a reminder, the government plans to triple the solidarity tax on plane tickets (TSBA). Although this measure is not yet in force, Air France has already passed it on to flights scheduled from January 1.
Boom in ticket prices at Air France
Currently, this tax, applied as part of the ecological transition to reduce the carbon footprint of air travel, amounts to 2.63 euros on an economy class ticket from France to a European Union country. . According to The Parisianthe planned increase will bring this amount to 9.50 euros, a significant increase which is of particular concern to frequent plane users. This increase will be even more marked for business and First class tickets: it will vary between 63.07 and 80 euros for flights of less than 5,500 km and could reach up to 120 euros for long hauls of more than 5,500 km.
According to BFM Business, which simulated a reservation, prices have actually increased. For a Paris-Nice flight, a supplement of more than 8 euros was applied, corresponding to a “surplus linked to the solidarity tax”. The company confirmed that “This increase would come into effect for carriage on or after January 1, 2025, and would also apply to tickets already issued for travel on or after that date. “.
A spokesperson for the Air France-KLM group clarified: “The Air France KLM Group has decided to pass this increase on tickets sold for trips from January 1, 2025, without waiting for adoption. finalization of the finance bill. », highlighting the financial impact that this tax represents.
A shock measure for travel unions
The early application of this tax has strongly aroused disapproval of travel unionswho deplore the lack of communication from Air France. In a letter addressed to the company, Valérie Boned, president of Travel Companies (EDV), and René-Marc Chikli, president of the Union of tour-operating companies (Seto), are indignant: “We are surprised by this implemented without any prior information from those you describe as “partners”! It is also shocking to see the Air France-KLM group applying a tax that has not yet been voted on when, at the same time, you are protesting against its introduction. “. The unions are calling for the immediate suspension of this increase, pending official validation of the new TSBA.
