Air France-KLM has decided to immediately pass on the increase in the tax on airline tickets provided for in the 2025 finance bill for ticket sales from January 1. “ This massive and unprecedented increase would apply to any travel made from January 1, 2025, including for tickets issued before the vote on the 2025 finance law. », Explained the group in a press release.
Since October 24, the surcharge (at 9.50 euros compared to 2.63 previously) has therefore been passed on to plane tickets on sale for next year, as revealed by The Parisian et Le Figaro. This increase concerns all Air France, KLM and Transavia flights to a European Union country or overseas departments in economy and premium class. « I don't think that, for flights in Europe, a tax of 9.50 euros calls into question the balance », defended in The Tribune at the start of the week François Durovray, the new Minister Delegate in charge of Transport.
“A tax of 9.50 euros does not destabilize the aviation sector” (François Durovray, Minister of Transport)
Air France-KLM undertakes to reimburse if the law is not passed
Air France-KLM justifies this anticipation while the law has not yet been passed by a potential significant shortfall for the companies. “ Having to pay an uncollected tax to the French State would represent a loss of several tens of millions of euros. », advances the air group. In return, it undertakes to reimburse customers for the surplus collected “ in the event of modification of the scale, abandonment or rejection of the amendment. ».
The tax increase becomes more complex depending on the type of flight and seat. In business class, the tax increases from 20.27 to 30 euros. For other flights of less than 5,500 km, the tax increases from 7.51 to 15 euros in economy and premium and from 63.07 to 80 euros in business class. Finally, for flights over 5,500 km, this tax increases to 40 euros (instead of 7.51 euros) for the cheapest categories and to 120 euros (instead of 63.07 euros) in business class.
The airline ticket solidarity tax (TSBA), also nicknamed the “Chirac tax”, was created to help developing countries in 2006, and it only affects passengers. As part of the finance bill for 2025, the government plans to increase taxes on the aviation sector in France by one billion euros. The proceeds from the TSBA, which now also contributes to the financing of transport infrastructures such as rail, currently represent 462 million euros.
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