Disturbances should be of low magnitude. The Air France company even says it is able to operate all of its flights this Thursday, November 14. But it was enough for the National Union of Airline Pilots (SNPL) to announce a day of strike to shine the spotlight on the upcoming increase in the solidarity tax on plane tickets (TSBA).
What are we talking about? From the famous “Chirac tax”, decided in 2002, and which the government intends to increase again to generate one billion euros in additional revenue each year. A way to replenish the coffers – he makes no secret of it – and to invite greater carbon sobriety, while air travel represents between 3 and 5% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Restoring tax fairness between plane and train
“I don’t see why today a Paris-Marseille would be more profitable for a customer by plane than by train”argued the Minister of Transport François Durovray on Franceinfo, Saturday November 9. Rail supporters deplore the fact that this means of transport suffers from unfavorable taxation: train tickets take into account the VAT paid on electricity, while kerosene is not taxed.
That being said, plane tickets are already subject to taxes and airport charges, argues a company like Easyjet, citing as an example the amount of €135 paid by a family of four making a round trip between Lyon and Porto in summer period.
Tax air travel to protect the climate
The idea of strengthening taxes on airplanes regularly resurfaces. It was among the proposals of the Citizens' Climate Convention in 2019. In September, the Climate Action Network (RAC) put forward the idea of a “frequent traveler” tax, penalizing passengers who most often resort to the plane.
The government plans a differentiated increase in the TSBA depending on the distances traveled. In economy class, the tax would increase from €2.60 to €9.50 for a flight to another European country, from €7.50 to €40, for a trip to a distant destination.
Fewer lines departing from regional airports?
Antoine Godier, spokesperson for the SNPL, fears a distortion of competition. “Companies based in France will suffer the tax increase on almost all of their routes, while their competitors will only be affected for their flights departing from France. Enough to undermine their competitiveness, when they already lose, on average, 1% of market share each year at the global level. »
The Union of French Airports drives home the point: “The executive assumes that a passenger can pay €9.50 more to travel abroad, notes its general delegate Nicolas Paulissen. Except that he may no longer be able to do so. Because in many regional airports, low-cost airlines are in the majority.Very sensitive to costs, they could decide to no longer serve certain cities to redeploy their capacities in neighboring countries. » A phenomenon observed today in Germany, after an increase in taxation targeting air transport.
11,500 jobs threatened
In France, an increase in the TSBA could lead to the destruction of 11,500 jobs in 2025, calculated the National Federation of Aviation and its Trades. Without real budgetary efficiency: the drop in traffic (– 2%) would result in a drop in tax revenue (– 510 million euros).
Examining the budget, the deputies adopted on Friday November 8 an amendment proposed by airline lobbyists. His goal? Limit the increase to a single year and not apply the measure for flights to and from Corsica and overseas. But the rejection by the Assembly, on Tuesday, November 12, of the revenue part of the finance law – the Senate will look at the initial version – creates uncertainty over the contours of this measure.
Air France-KLM has already readjusted its 2025 prices
The government seems ready to grant compensation, in the form of a tax credit benefiting companies that use sustainable fuels the most (biofuel and synthetic fuel). “But these fuels still need to be available and affordable”slips, doubtful, Nicolas Paulissen.
In the meantime, the Air France-KLM group (Air France, KLM, Transavia, Hop) has already reflected the probable increase in the TSBA in its 2025 prices. “In the event of modification of the scale, abandonment or rejection of the amendment, the group companies will carry out a regularization”he promises.
