The National Assembly approved this Friday, as part of the examination of the draft budget, the increase in taxation on air transport proposed by the government, however limiting its duration to one year and excluding from the system, French island and overseas territories.
The government amendment, supposed to increase air transport taxation by one billion euros with entry into force on January 1, 2025, was adopted with 99 votes for against 78, with the entire government camp and the left voting for, the RN and its allies against. The tax is therefore validated for an application of one year only.
Several deputies successfully defended the need to protect overseas and island territories. Among them Christian BaptisteNFP deputy for the 2nd constituency of Guadeloupe, the key word of this issue, being the defense of territorial continuity.
The system will increase the tax rates on airline tickets for economy class flights from 2.60 euros per passenger to 9.50 euros, for a European destination, from 7.50 euros to 15 euros for destinations intermediaries, and from 7.50 euros to 40 euros for distant destinations, explained the general rapporteur of the Budget, Charles de Courson (Liot). Increases are also planned for business class, from 20 to 30 euros for European destinations, from 63 to 80 euros for intermediate destinations and from 63 to 120 euros for distant destinations, he detailed.
An increase to which the airlines are opposed even if some, like Air France or even Air Caraibes and French Bee have already passed on the increases to their 2025 prices.
For the overseas deputies, this issue of the solidarity tax on air travel and its impact on the prices of plane tickets is only one aspect of the broader issue of the cost of living and territorial continuity. For Christian Baptiste, rapporteur for the Finance Committee, action will be needed on other fronts such as freight costs and distributor margins. MPs have their work cut out for them.
France
